Europe and Jordan: Reform before it’s too late

Although many in Europe perceive Jordan as a beacon of stability in a volatile region, it is in fact experiencing its own slow-burning awakening. Despite King Abdullah’s promise of rapid reform in early 2011, he has resisted meaningful change that would loosen his hold on power. Even so, it is hard to see how the king will be able to turn back the forces of change sweeping the region. While it is, therefore, tempting for the European Union to continue with its current 'hug and hold' approach, this threatens to increase popular disenchantment and fuel wider instability. This would be bad for the king, bad for Jordan and bad for Europe.

While reform will clearly have to be homegrown, the EU should take a more assertive approach to Jordan. The EU is Jordan’s second-largest trading partner and has committed nearly €300 million in EU funding and approximately €1.2 billion in bilateral loans and grants over the next three years. This gives it significant influence with Jordan at a time of growing economic challenges. The EU should use this leverage in an ongoing effort to press King Abdullah to reform before it is too late. It should reinforce its policy towards Jordan by making support more conditional on real progress rather than simply the promise of reform.

EEAS: Jordan http://www.eeas.europa.eu/jordan/index_en.htm

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