Jordan participated in the Euro-Mediterranean Summit which concluded recently in the Cypriot capital Nicosia.
Jordan's delegation headed by the President of the Economic and Social Council, Munther Shara', reviewed the impact of the Syrian crisis on the Kingdom's economic and social situation, indicating that the support provided to Jordan is not enough to overcome the burden it placed on Jordan.
The northern governorates, being adjacent to the Syrian borders, were the most affected areas, resulting in economic, water scarcity related and social problems and negatively impacting the small and medium enterprises that were generating important income for a majority of families living there, Shara' explained.
The summit participants called upon the political authorities and the international community to increase political and financial support provided to Jordan and Lebanon, since they were having to bear the burden of hosting the largest number of the Syrian displaced. The refugees' numbers now account for 20-30 percent of the total indigenous population.
The two-day summit also discussed having a dialogue with political authorities to empower the civil society and its institutions, the challenges facing economic and social councils, issues of poverty, social marginalization and economic empowerment of women in the Euro Mediterranean region.