By Mohammad Ghazal

AMMAN - Freezing settlement activities in the West Bank is a prerequisite for resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, but “serious developments” on the ground are also needed in other fields, Swedish Ambassador to Jordan Charlotta Sparre said on Sunday.

“It is not only enough to freeze settlements… The access of movement is an absolutely crucial factor in getting any economic development moving,” the envoy said in a press conference yesterday.

“Right now we see much more of a global international awareness of the importance of addressing this specific issue. But I also think there is great awareness among the ministers in Brussels that freezing settlements is not enough,” Sparre added.

Sparre, whose country took over the six-month rotating presidency of the 27-member EU on July 1, said the union has been “extremely vocal over a very long period of time” about the issue of settlements, but added that “unless there is serious international pressure, including from the US, it is very difficult to see any real development”.

Noting that the EU will continue to play an active role in the Mideast peace process, she said Jordan and the EU will work “very closely” together over the next few months in this regard.

She also stressed that the EU supports the two-state solution, calling it “the only viable option that we see at this time in history”.

The EU has put an offer of closer trade ties on hold until Israel recommits to the roadmap for peace, drawn up by the US, the UN, the EU and Russia, by taking steps that include a halt to settlement construction, according to Bloomberg news.

Referring to Jordan’s request for “advanced status” with the EU, the diplomat said discussions are currently ongoing between the two sides on how they can further develop ties in different areas.

Potential areas of cooperation include water, energy, communications and transport, she added.

Sparre said during Sweden’s presidency of the EU, she foresees the formation of an ad hoc committee through which Jordanian and EU officials will meet to discuss areas in which they would like to work on further enhancing ties and how to do so.

Jordan submitted a request for “advanced status” with the EU, a distinction currently enjoyed by Israel and Morocco, during a meeting of the EU-Jordan Association Council in Brussels last November.

Once approved by the EU, advanced status would make Jordan eligible to participate in programmes previously exclusive to EU member states.