The European Union announced on Wednesday it will expand the scope of the rules of origin scheme with Jordan, agreed in 2016, to cover exports from all factories in the Kingdom, after being limited to 18 specialised industrial zones.

The scheme was also extended by an additional four years, to 2030, thus boosting the opportunity for Jordanian factories to export products to European markets.

These announcements came during His Majesty King Abdullah’s meeting on Wednesday with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who affirmed the European Union’s support for Jordan.

Jordan and the European Union agreed to extend the framework of the EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities until 2020, to maintain support for the Kingdom in education, health, infrastructure, water, and other sectors.

The EU and Jordan also agreed to finalise the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area Implementing Arrangement, securing support for water and agricultural projects in Jordan.

In addition, the EU and Jordan reached an agreement on establishing a framework for the participation of Jordan in EU crisis management operations.

Discussions at the meeting between King Abdullah and European Commission President Juncker, which was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Ghazi, covered means to enhance Jordan-EU cooperation as well as a number of regional issues, especially the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and the crisis in Syria.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Trade Minister Tariq Hammouri, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Brussels Yousef Bataineh attended the meeting.