Minister: Jordan close to European Energy Charter full membership

Nov 9, 2009, 15:36 GMT

Amman - Jordan is in the last stage of negotiations for obtaining the full membership of the European Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair al-Ali said Monday.

Al-Ali made the remarks after talks in Amman with the ECT Secretary-General Andre Mernier and the Dutch Energy Envoy Jan Meinte Postma, an official statement said.

'Jordan's application for the ECT full membership is drawn on the body's forthcoming conference due to be held in Rome on December 9,' al-Ali said.

She said the talks with the two European officials tackled 'the extent of coherence between Jordanian legislations and those observed by the ECT members'.

Al-Ali pointed out that Jordan's joining of the ECT as observer in 2007 had opened the door for the Kingdom to benefit from this relation, particularly the acquisition of technical assistance and relying on the accumulative experience of the member countries.

'The full ECT membership will enable Jordan to reap several advantages, foremost the promotion of merchandise in the sphere of energy with ECT members, cooperation and joint investments in the field of energy and the development of various resources including renewable energy,' she said.