Experts: Crown Prince's Participation in 'Med 9' Strengthens Jordan's Economic Presence in Europe

As a delegate of His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II participates in the activities of the 'Med 9' summit of Southern European countries, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The summit activities will start next Wednesday in the Croatian city of Split, with the participation of heads of state of Southern European countries and representatives of the European Union, to discuss opportunities for enhancing mutual cooperation.

Jordan's participation in the summit as a main guest for the third consecutive time confirms the importance of the Kingdom's role in the region and its solid partnership with the European Union.

Financial and economic expert Dr. Mohammad Al-Hadab Al-Sarhan said that the participation of His Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, as a delegate of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in the 'Med 9' summit of Southern European countries for the third consecutive time, carries economic importance alongside its political aspect, especially in a phase where the Jordanian-European partnership is increasingly moving towards investment, trade, and production projects.

He added that Jordan's continued presence as a main guest in a gathering that includes Southern European countries reflects the level of relations that the Kingdom has been able to build with the European Union, and provides an important space to present Jordanian economic opportunities to countries geographically close to the Kingdom, which possess expertise and capital in sectors needed by the Jordanian economy.

Al-Sarhan explained that the importance of the summit increases with the ongoing preparations for holding the Jordanian-European Investment Conference before the end of this year, as the participation of His Highness the Crown Prince can be considered a station that helps build the momentum preceding the conference. The conference will not achieve its objectives merely by gathering investors in Jordan, but when it is preceded by direct communication with European governments, companies, and financial institutions, and identifying sectors and projects that can be transformed into actual partnerships. Thus, the 'Med 9' summit can support Jordan's efforts to reach potential investors in energy, water, transportation, logistics, technology, and value-added industries.

He pointed out that the strategic and comprehensive partnership with the European Union, supported by a financial and investment package worth 3 billion euros for the period 2025-2027, gives Jordan an opportunity beyond obtaining traditional financing. The economic priority should be to use this partnership to attract more European private sector investments, transfer technology, and connect Jordanian companies with European supply chains and markets. The increase in Jordanian exports to the European Union during the current year gives an indication of the greater space for expanding the relationship from financing and aid to joint production, trade, and investment.

Al-Sarhan explained that Southern European countries have advanced expertise in sectors that intersect with Jordan's priorities, from renewable energy and water management to maritime transport, logistics, tourism, food industries, and technology. Therefore, the opportunity lies not only in attracting a European company to establish a project within the Kingdom, but in building partnerships that bring together a European company with a Jordanian one, transfer knowledge and technology, and open new markets for the Jordanian product. Jordan can also present itself to these countries as a regional production and connection platform capable of reaching the Gulf, Iraq, and the region, rather than just as a limited local market.

Al-Sarhan added that the efforts led by His Majesty the King to expand Jordan's international economic relations, and which His Highness the Crown Prince continues to build upon through his presence at international economic forums and meetings, provide an important opportunity for the upcoming Jordanian-European Investment Conference. The communications preceding the conference need to be transformed into a clear list of companies, projects, and opportunities that can be followed up after its conclusion, because the real value of the relationship with Europe will be reflected in the number of investments that start working in Jordan, the volume of technology that is transferred to it, the exports that reach new markets, and the jobs that are created as a result of these partnerships.

Economic expert Wajdi Makhamreh pointed out that the participation of His Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II in the 'Med 9' summit is of importance that goes beyond the protocol aspect, especially since Jordan is participating as a main guest for the third consecutive time, which reflects the continued European interest in the Jordanian role and partnership with the Kingdom.

He added that this participation comes at a time when the 'Med 9' countries are focusing on files directly related to Jordanian priorities, including energy security, water management, green transformation, competitiveness, supply chains, and the digital economy. This participation, according to Makhamreh, also provides Jordan with an opportunity to expand cooperation with European countries in renewable energy, green hydrogen, water, transport, and logistics projects, in addition to benefiting from European expertise in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. The summit can also serve as a platform for promoting Jordanian investment opportunities and attracting European companies to establish production projects in the Kingdom.

He pointed out that expanding relations with Southern European countries can help Jordan diversify its export markets and build industrial and production partnerships targeting the European market, benefiting from the Kingdom's geographical location and trade agreements with Europe and the region.

Makhamreh also noted that Jordan's participation confirms that it is seen as an important partner in the European dialogue with the South Mediterranean and the Middle East, and also gives the Crown Prince's participation an opportunity to present Jordan's priorities to a number of European countries and decision-makers in the European Union, especially regarding regional stability, the repercussions of crises in the Middle East, refugees, and energy and food security.

He mentioned that the participation can be seen as an opportunity to enhance Jordan's economic diplomacy and transform the distinguished political relations with Europe into practical economic results, represented by attracting new European investments, financing water, energy, and transport projects, developing joint renewable energy projects, increasing Jordanian exports to European markets, enhancing Jordan's position as a regional center for services, transport, and energy, expanding cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence, and strengthening food security and supply chains.

Economic expert Munir Dia said that Jordan is participating for the third consecutive time in the 'Med 9' summit of Southern European countries, which includes nine European countries: France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, and Cyprus, in addition to representatives of the European Union. Jordan's participation from outside the nine European countries confirms the depth of relations linking it with the European Union countries and the strategic partnerships between Jordan and the European Union, and also shows Jordan's participation, with the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince, the status of the Kingdom as an important strategic partner and ally of the European Union.

Dia pointed out that the political, economic, and investment relations between Jordan and the European Union countries have grown significantly after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement about two years ago, which aims to increase the volume of trade and investment between Jordan and the European Union. The agreement enhances mutual cooperation and provides the necessary support for several key sectors in Jordan, such as water, energy, transport, and health and education services, which contributes to enhancing Jordan's position as an investment destination for European Union countries and strengthens the Kingdom's position as a major partner of the European Union in the region.

He pointed out that the launch of the Jordanian-European Investment Conference in Jordan next month, with the participation of dozens of major European companies, and which is expected to result in billions of dollars in investments in multiple sectors exceeding 15 main sectors, indicates that Jordan and the European Union are serious about achieving the comprehensive strategic partnership and enhancing economic and investment cooperation to serve the common interests of both parties.