(Amman- 18 September 2025) Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, met with Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy, in her official visit to Jordan to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation between the Government of Jordan and the College. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Jordan.

Minister Toukan reaffirmed Jordan’s deep appreciation for its partnership with the European Union, describing the EU as one of the Kingdom’s foremost development partners. She highlighted the Union’s role in supporting Jordan’s reform and development priorities, particularly within the framework of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership announced in January 2025. The Declaration outlines key areas of cooperation across domains of mutual interest, aligned with Jordan’s political, economic, and administrative modernization tracks. The Minister also expressed the Government’s gratitude for the EU’s continued assistance in advancing national priorities.

Toukan  presented the full scope of reforms currently underway as part of Jordan’s Public Sector Modernization Roadmap, which includes the upskilling of government leadership across all levels. In this context, she emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration with the College of Europe, one of Europe’s premier institutions for postgraduate studies in European affairs. Under this partnership, an advanced capacity-building programme will be implemented, targeting diplomats and civil servants whose portfolios intersect with foreign affairs, European relations, international cooperation, and donor engagement. The programme will be delivered over three consecutive cycles in Amman and Belgium, home to the College’s headquarters, with the inaugural phase set to commence in October 2025.

For her part, Mogherini, commended Jordan’s stability and its pivotal role as a strategic partner to the European Union. She underscored the importance of robust institutions in enhancing state resilience, and stressed the need for sustained investment in technical and institutional capacity-building in Jordan. She also noted the potential for Jordan to share its expertise with neighbouring countries, particularly Syria, through joint initiatives with the College. Ms. Mogherini expressed her anticipation of welcoming the first cohort of trainees and affirmed the College’s readiness to extend access to its postgraduate programmes in the future.