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