Eurocommissaris De Palacio bespreekt veiligheid en energie tijdens bezoek Jordanië (en) - Hoofdinhoud

Further to her visits to Syria and Lebanon in May 2004 and her visit to Turkey in July, Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of relations with the European Parliament, Transport and Energy, is paying a visit to Jordan and Egypt on 23-27 September 2004 to underline the importance, in the framework of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and the European Neighbourhood Policy, of practical steps to increase regional integration of energy and transport networks.

In the course of her visit to Jordan, the Vice-President met with the Prime Minister Faisal Al-Fayez, Senate President Zaid Rifai, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Azmi Khreisat, Public Works, Housing and Transport Minister Raed Abu Soud, and Planning and International Cooperation Minister Bassem Awadallah.

Whereas talks with the Prime Minister and the President of the Senate focused on the overall political situation in the region as well as general relations with the European Union, during her meeting with the Minister of Energy, Loyola de Palacio underlined that "Jordan is playing a key role in energy market integration within the Mashrek region and is an important transit country for the region's hydrocarbon resources destined to the EU market." She stressed, in this context, the role that the development of new energy networks can play in not only enhancing the energy security of Jordan but also in promoting regional co-operation and economic prosperity. Ongoing reforms in the Jordanian energy sector, and particularly in the electricity sector, were also discussed.

With regard to the security and continuity of electricity supplies, the Vice-President assured the Minister of Energy that the EU would be studying possibilities for technical cooperation and twinning projects with a view to provide high-level expertise needed to face disruptions. In addition, the Vice-President stressed the importance of increasing the renewable energy share as well as energy efficiency in Jordan's overall energy policy strategy.

During her meeting with the Transport Minister, discussions revolved around reforms being undertaken in the transport sector, the preparation of horizontal negotiations in the air transport sector, and the opportunity of launching twinning projects and providing technical assistance in key areas such as aviation markets, maritime safety and security.

Finally, the Vice President discussed with the Planning Minister important energy and transport infrastructure projects, the extension of the Trans European Transport Network to the Mediterranean partners in order to reflect the new geopolitical situation of the enlarged European Union and financing possibilities.

In this context, she invited Jordan to take part in a high-level group that will define priority connections between major Trans-European Transport Axes and the EU's neighbouring regions.