Amman, Sept. 8 (Petra) - The Economic and Social Council (ESC) on Tuesday took part in a regional virtual seminar focused on the European Union's new Pact for the Mediterranean, aimed at boosting cooperation between the EU and Southern Mediterranean nations.

The seminar, organized by the Union of Arab Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (UAESCSI), brought together regional leaders to explore avenues for economic growth, social development, and stability.

Talking at the event, ESC President Musa Shteiwi described the pact as a "key opportunity" to deepen Jordan’s partnership with the EU. He urged European partners to align funding, through grants, concessional loans, and blended finance, with Southern Mediterranean priorities, including job creation, green energy, water security, digital infrastructure, and vocational training.

ESC Secretary-General Nazir Awamleh stated that continuous dialogue and policy-sharing between Southern Mediterranean institutions and the EU are "vital" to tackling shared economic and social challenges.

Earlier in 2026, Amman hosted preliminary consultations on the pact, focusing on three core pillars: human capital and innovation, sustainable economic growth, and regional security and migration management.

The pact builds on the 30-year-old Barcelona Process, updating the framework for EU-Mediterranean relations.

//Petra// HA