The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jordan and Expertise France on Wednesday held an award ceremony within the framework of the project "Reinforcing Jordan’s Capabilities at the Eastern Borders”, according to an EU statement.

Funded by the EU for a total amount of six million euros, this project aims to improve the coordination and sustainability of civil-military operations in the eastern border of Jordan, with the provision of a multi-agency logistical hub in Ruwaished, a town in the Mafraq Governorate, as well as capacity building activities.

The ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), was attended by Brigadier General Bassam Al Faleh, EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou and French Ambassador to Jordan Véronique Vouland.

This event was an opportunity to award 50 trainees from the JAF, the Public Security Directorate, the Customs and the General Intelligence Directorate. These trainees took part in trainings provided by the EU to improve their knowledge of logistics and civil-military cooperation, the statement said.

The objective of the capacity-building component is to enhance the national authorities’ capability to respond to any threats at the northern and eastern borders likely to hamper Jordan’s security. 

It will also contribute to the sustainable resumption of normal cross-border traffic with Iraq and to improve the humanitarian and civil protection response, the statement said.

Hadjitheodosiou stressed that this training is a component of an ongoing programme carried out in the context of the EU-Jordan cooperation aiming to enhance border management and protection of Jordanian citizens. 

"The increasing and changing nature of threats for global security, and the limited resources and capabilities make the interaction between civilian and military organisations imperative to better manage the disaster response. These trainings will enhance coordination and sustainability of the crisis-response in the Eastern part of Jordan,” she said.

Vouland said: "The objective of this hub is to support the efforts of Jordan to secure its borders and to enhance its civil-military cooperation”.

She added: "This project is an outstanding example of Jordanian, European and French partnership, and I look forward to seeing it completed and fully operational.”

The project is implemented by Expertise France, which is the French public agency for international technical assistance. 

Expertise France provides its support to the building of the infrastructure and will provide training activities, working closely with the JAF and the relevant Jordanian law enforcement and security agencies, the statement said.