Investing in Jordan: The European Investment Bank (EIB) is currently working, in close cooperation with the Jordanian authorities, on an extensive pipeline of already identified new projects, with estimated lending activities of up to €400 million over the next two years thus more than doubling the current level of annual lending.

Dead Sea, February 22 (Petra) - Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan, and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton on Wednesday singed two grants worth 20 million euros by the EU to Jordan.

The agreement was signed at the end of the first meeting of the EU-Jordan Task Force.

Jordan’s political reform path: The Jordanian government briefed the Task Force on the ongoing process of political reforms and the detailed timeline of their implementation, emphasising their potential to transform the institutional set-up of the country. For Jordan 2012 will be the year of delivery. Jordan is committed to pursuing a sustained pace of reforms which are vital for the consolidation of the institutions deepening democracy and the rule of law.

Dead Sea, February 22 (Petra) - Prime Minister Aoun Khasawneh on Wednesday said the meeting of the EU-Jordan Task Force was successful in tackling frameworks of cooperation and support that can be provided by the EU to Jordan's political and economic reforms.

Amman, Feb 22 (Petra) -- The first meeting of the joint Jordan-European Union (EU) Task Force took place on 22 February in Amman, under the joint chairmanship of the Jordanian Prime Minister, Awn Khasawneh and Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, and Vice President of the European Commission.

The Task Force welcomed the EU’s commitment to working with Jordan to further reduce technical barriers to trade. It noted that the offer to negotiate and conclude an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) was all the more relevant as the two parties sought to further deepen their bilateral trade relations.

In remarks at the opening session Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh expressed Jordan's appreciation of the EU's initiative to form a special task force as well as the EU's continued support for Jordan.

"Your participation today reflects the strong bilateral ties that Jordan highly values, he said, adding that Jordan was working with determination to achieve political, economic and social reforms.

Kuala Lumpur,Feb.22 (Petra)- Jordan's Ambassador to Malaysia Maher Lukasha hailed relations between Jordan and Malaysia which he said share common views on international and regional issues, especially the Middle East.

Ramallah, Feb. 22 (Petra) -- Palestinian Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Mahmoud Habash on Wednesday said that 2011 witnessed over 160 Israeli violations against Palestinian holy sites and Muslim cemeteries.

The ministry's annual report, a copy of which was obtained by Petra's reporter in Ramallah, also highlighted the ongoing Israeli assaults against Islamic holy shrines.

The Dead Sea, Feb.22(Petra)-- The first meeting of the European Union(EU)-Jordan Task Force started Wednesday its sessions at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at Dead Sea.

The meeting is chaired by Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission.