AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica on Monday participated in a high-level Jordan–EU business roundtable in Brussels.

 

The roundtable brought together Jordanian political and economic decision-makers, European companies and international partners, with a focus on moving beyond declarations towards tangible investments.

 

Speaking at a press point following the roundtable, Suica said that the EU is stepping up efforts to translate its upgraded partnership with Jordan into large-scale, investment-driven projects, describing the partnership as strategic and increasingly indispensable for the EU amid growing regional instability and intensifying global competition for influence and capital.

 

She said deepening cooperation with “reliable partners” such as Jordan has become a necessity rather than a choice, adding that the EU’s engagement with Jordan is guided by a long-term strategic calculus that links economic resilience, private-sector mobilisation and regional stability.

 

She noted that the EU has set an ambitious target to mobilise up to 1.4 billion euros in new investments through European financial instruments, alongside substantial direct financial support. Last week, she added, the EU approved an additional 500 million euros in macro-financial assistance for Jordan, reinforcing its commitment to economic stability and reform implementation.

 

She said, "Central to the EU approach is reducing investment risk through blended finance mechanisms combining grants, guarantees and financial instruments to attract private capital", adding that this model is already being applied to several flagship projects aligned with Jordan’s national priorities and the EU’s strategic interests.

 

"Foremost among these is the Aqaba–Amman desalination and water conveyance project, with more than 1.5 billion euros mobilised through EU-backed financing."

 

Suica said the project is expected to play a transformative role in addressing Jordan’s chronic water scarcity while strengthening long-term sustainability and economic resilience.

 

Suica also highlighted strategic investments in the digital sector, including the Aqaba Digital Hub and the extension of the Medusa submarine cable. These initiatives, she said, aim to position Jordan as a regional connectivity hub linking Europe, the Middle East and beyond, opening new opportunities for businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs.

 

According to Suica, such projects send a clear signal to investors that Jordan is a “reliable and stable partner” capable of delivering on large-scale commitments. She added that a robust pipeline of projects is being developed in sectors including energy, logistics, regional connectivity, pharmaceuticals and critical raw materials.

 

European companies, she said, are increasingly responding, with many expressing concrete interest in entering or expanding operations in the Jordanian market.

 

Toukan said the partnership builds on a long-standing relationship now consolidated through a comprehensive framework and a 3 billion euros support package. She described the agreement as part of a strategic trajectory rather than a standalone initiative, particularly in light of the regional pressures Jordan continues to face.

 

She said Jordan is keen to capitalise on the upcoming investment conference at the Dead Sea, to be inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah, as a critical milestone in advancing joint priorities.

 

Toukan added that Jordan and the EU plan to launch a joint European roadshow ahead of the conference, visiting several European cities to mobilise companies and investors and promote the financing tools available under the partnership.

 

These tools, she said, include guarantees, de-risking instruments and grants blended with financing from European institutions to lower barriers for private investors and accelerate implementation.

 

Toukan said the Brussels roundtable offered an opportunity to present strategic projects while highlighting Jordan’s political stability, competitive advantages, skilled workforce, modern infrastructure, business environment and regional connectivity.

 

The Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, signed in 2025 in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, marked a qualitative shift in bilateral relations. As the first agreement of its kind between the EU and a Middle Eastern country, it positioned Jordan as a strategic partner within a broader European framework integrating investment, reform and preventive stability.

 

The shift was further institutionalised earlier this month, when Jordan and the EU jointly hosted the first-ever EU–Jordan Summit in Amman, elevating relations to the highest political level and launching a more operational phase focused on investment pipelines, economic reform and measurable outcomes.

 

The next milestone will be the EU–Jordan Investment Conference, scheduled for April 21 in Amman, which is expected to further mobilise private capital and translate political commitments into contractual outcomes.