EC/Jordan agreement: Euro-Mediterranean association agreement

OBJECTIVE: to conclude a Euro-Mediterranean association agreement between the Community and Jordan. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council and Commission Decision No 2002/357/EC, ECSC on the conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part. CONTENT: The agreement seeks to establish an association between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and Jordan, on the other hand. It will replace the cooperation agreement and the agreement on ECSC products signed in 1977. The agreement will be concluded for an indefinite period and will consolidate the existing ties between Europe and Jordan, creating a relationship based on reciprocity, partnership and joint development. Its main objective is gradually to create a free trade area and establish a new partnership. Respect for the principles of democracy and human rights are an essential element of the agreement. Main provisions: - establishment of a regular political dialogue on bilateral and international issues of common interest; - gradual establishment of a free trade area between the Community and Jordan over a period of no more than 12 years. Jordan will progressively eliminate trade barriers affecting the Community's industrial exports and will apply preferential duties to Community agricultural exports. The preferential arrangement currently applied by the Community (free market access for Jordanian industrial exports, and concessions on Jordanian agricultural exports) are confirmed and will be further improved by means of additional concessions; - specific provisions on agricultural trade: the agreement contains a special clause under which the parties undertake to examine the agricultural trade situation after 2002 with a view to establishing more reciprocal concessions and gradually liberalising trade in this sector; - services: the agreement contains provisions anticipating future arrangements in the framework of Jordanian membership of the WTO, foreseeing limited reciprocal liberalisation of the right of establishment and a commitment progressively to allow the supply of services; - economic cooperation: existing cooperation will be strengthened on as wide a basis as possible in all areas of interest to the parties; - financial cooperation: financial cooperation will be established in accordance with appropriate procedures and financial resources; - other forms of cooperation: the agreement makes provision for cooperation in the economic, scientific, technological, cultural, audiovisual and environmental fields and in vocational training, with a view to strengthening mutual links. It also attaches special importance to regional cooperation. A major section is devoted to social cooperation, with a view to improving living and working conditions for Jordanian and Community nationals legally resident on each other's territory. The agreement also provides for cooperation in combating illegal immigration. At institutional level, the agreement makes provision for the establishment of an Association Council and an Association Committee with decision-making powers. Cooperation between the European Parliament and the Jordanian Parliament will also be encouraged. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 1 May 2002.�