Jordan and the European Union (EU) on Thursday signed a declaration to officially establish a Mobility Partnership.
The declaration was signed by Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs Nasser Judeh, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, and the Ministers responsible for migration from the twelve EU Member States participating in this partnership, namely Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
The Joint Declaration on Migration, Mobility and Security establishes a framework for future cooperation in the field of migration and mobility. Thursday’s agreement came in recognition of the strong ties that exist between the EU and Jordan since decades, culminating in Jordan's "advanced status" in 2010.
During the signing ceremony, Judeh highlighted Jordan’s efforts to enhance security and stability in the Middle East as well as the Kingdom’s endeavors to fight terrorism and extremism. Jordan, he said, remains an oasis of security and stability in a volatile region.
The Declaration stipulates that measures should be taken to improve the information available to qualified Jordanian citizens on employment, education and training opportunities available in the EU and also to make mutual recognition of professional and university qualifications easier.
Besides opening negotiations on an agreement for the readmission of irregular migrants, the EU and Jordan will begin negotiations on an agreement to facilitate the visa issuing procedures.
"The EU and Jordan will step up efforts to better prevent human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants while at the same time paving the way for the start of negotiations on an agreement to facilitate the procedures for the issuing of Schengen visas to citizens of Jordan. The Partnership will also support Jordan's remarkable efforts in providing stability and refuge in the region", EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom said.
Jordan and the EU began a Dialogue on Migration, Mobility and Security in December 2012 on the sidelines of a royal visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to Brussel. Meanwhile, negotiations on the Political Declaration for the EU-Jordan Mobility Partnership were finalized last June.