Amman - Jordan and the European Union on Wednesday launched a joint scheme for combating terrorism and organized crime, a statement by the European Commission said.

The "European Union-Jordan Twinning Project to Fight Against Terrorism and Organized Crime" was launched at an official ceremony by the Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Suhair al-Ali.

Also attending were the Director General of the Public Security Directorate (PSD) General Mazen Qadi , head of the European Commission Delegation in Jordan Patrick Renauld, and EU ambassadors.

"The EU-funded project is the first European Commission project in the area of counterterrorism in Jordan," the Commission's statement said.

It is a pilot initiative that focuses on delivering training courses to the Explosives Handling Unit at Jordan's Preventive Security Department and to the Forensic Laboratories Department (FLD), it added.

"There are potential benefits of using social and economic development as counterterrorism tool," Renauld said.

"Social and economic development policies can contribute to the expansion of a new middle class. In many cases, this segment of the population has recognized the economic benefits of peace. As a result, it has worked to inhibit support for terrorist activities," he added. (dpa)