Amman, October 7 (Petra) -- Jordan and the EU affirmed their commitment on Tuesday to advancing human rights, democracy and good governance during the 14th meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance.
The meeting was held within the framework of the 2002 Jordan-EU Association Agreement, the Partnership Priorities for 2021–2027 and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in January 2025.
Discussions focused on strengthening the rule of law, promoting equality and non-discrimination and reinforcing democratic principles. Both sides emphasised that these shared values remain a cornerstone of their strategic partnership.
Jordan reviewed recent developments in its political and judicial reform efforts, including initiatives to strengthen party life and increase the political participation of women, youth and underrepresented groups.
The EU expressed continued support for Jordan's political modernisation agenda.
The two sides agreed to continue dialogue on the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission. The EU reiterated its backing for judicial reforms aimed at enhancing the independence and efficiency of the judiciary through ongoing cooperation programmes.
Freedom of expression and the protection of civic space were highlighted as key democratic values. Both sides stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for civil society organisations to operate freely and independently.
In this context, they discussed the Cybercrime Law passed in August 2023.
The delegations also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting gender equality, combating discrimination and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
The EU praised Jordan's implementation of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its adherence to international commitments, including the Amman-Berlin Declaration.
The EU further commended Jordan's humanitarian leadership in hosting large numbers of refugees, particularly from Syria and reiterated its support for refugees and host communities.
Both sides reiterated their stance on the abolition of the death penalty and underlined the importance of upholding the absolute prohibition of torture. They expressed determination to strengthen cooperation and explore joint initiatives at regional and international levels.
The two parties emphasized the importance of multilateralism, the rules-based international order and adherence to international law, including human rights and humanitarian law as enshrined in the UN Charter.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Saja Majali, Director of the Human Rights Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs and Alessio Cappellani, Head of the Jordan, Lebanon and Syria Section at the European External Action Service.
//Petra// AK
