Kick-off event in Amman on issues around the investment climate and the improvement of the legal framework with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment. Jordan
IRZ launched its cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment with an initial exchange of experiences on issues relating to the investment climate and the improvement of the legal framework on 10 May 2023 in Amman. The background to the cooperation is the Jordanian government’s aim to position the country as a stronger economy by 2030 and thus make it more attractive for foreign investors.
The Jordanian government has already taken the first steps to achieve this aim, as pointed out by Mr. Zaher Al-Qatarneh, Secretary General of the Jordanian Ministry of Investment in his opening speech. The measures include the formation of the Jordanian Ministry of Investment, which now bundles all the services relating to investments, and the new law regulating the legal framework for investments in Jordan, which came into force on 14 January 2023. Among others, this should create incentives and legal security for foreign investors and attract investments totalling 41 million Jordanian dinars into the country.
The IRZ expert, Dr. Christian Steiner, lawyer and managing partner of Ule & Steiner SLP gave an insight into the experiences in the Middle East and North Africa from a legal perspective. Many countries in the region have set themselves the goal of becoming more attractive to foreign investors. It is therefore essential to analyse how other countries position themselves and what incentives - such as attractive legal framework conditions, tax breaks, financial aid, exemptions from duty and free movement of services - are offered to foreign investors. However, Dr. Steiner emphasised that location factors also play a major role in investments. The national infrastructure, the stability of the political situation and security in general and legal certainty in particular are relevant aspects for investors.
Ms. Mays Khleifat, Head of the Directorate for Legal Affairs, rounded off the kick-off event with a presentation on various forms of capital investment in Jordan. She emphasised that while Jordan aims to attract more foreign investors, it also wants to encourage domestic investment. The Ministry of Investment would like to create targeted incentives for foreign investors to cooperate with domestic partners on certain projects. The new framework conditions protect the ownership rights of the Jordanian partner to counter any potential imbalance.
IRZ would like to thank Mays Khleifat, Dr. Christian Steiner and the participants for the committed and goal-oriented exchange and is looking forward to further cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Investment.
Exchange of experiences in Amman on the subject of Administrative Procedures and their Decision-Making Processes with the judges of the Jordanian Administrative Court. Jordan
IRZ organised an exchange of experiences on the subject of “Administrative Procedures and their Decision-Making Processes” in cooperation with the Jordanian Judicial Council and the Jordanian Judicial Academy on 11 May 2023 in Amman. The Federal Ministry of Justice financed the event, which was aimed at high-ranking Jordanian judges in the area of the Administrative Court jurisdiction. The common objective of the exchange of experiences was to contribute to an improvement in the quality of the administration of justice in Jordan.
Dr. Hisham Mufdi Salem Al-Majali, Judge of the Administrative Court, reported on the types, structure and design of the administrative procedure.
On behalf of IRZ, Mr. Stefan Schulte, Judge at the Administrative Court in Arnsberg, provided some insights into the German structure of the administrative procedure. He outlined the basic principles of German procedural law, the types of administration and the structure of the general (non-public) administrative procedure.
In the second part of the event, Mr. Schulte explained the decision in the administrative procedure. He not only explained the administrative act and its legal consequences, but also the issuance of general decrees, i.e. an administrative act that is aimed at a group of people who are or can be determined based on their general characteristics within the meaning of § 35 sentence 2 VwVfG (Administrative Procedure Act). This form of administrative act played a particularly important role during the pandemic.
The President of the Jordanian Administrative Court, Dr. Ali Rashid Hamid Abu Hajila rounded off the exchange of experiences with an insight into the Jordanian design of the administrative act and Jordanian administrative court procedure law.
The Jordanian participants used the specialist lectures for lively discussions and an intensive exchange of experiences. IRZ thanked the experts and participants for the successful event and is looking forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with the Jordanian Judicial Academy and the Judicial Council.
Exchange of experiences in Amman on harmonisation of legislation with international human rights standards with participants from the Jordanian Ministry of Justice. Jordan
As part of the institutional funding of the Federal Ministry of Justice, IRZ, in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, organised an exchange of experiences on 8 May, 2023 on the topic of “Harmonisation of legislation with international human rights standards”.
The exchange of experiences focused on the implementation process of international human rights obligations in national legislation and on the control mechanisms to ensure compliance with such obligations.
Hana Hamdan Saeed Al Khab, Head of the Department of Human Rights at the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, first provided an insight into how international human rights are implemented in Jordanian legislation.
Dr. Michael Erwin Fuchs, former Senior Ministerial Counsellor and lecturer, outlined the German design of the implementation process of international human rights conventions. He first described the difference between the monistic and dualistic theory which is implemented by Germany. International conventions are negotiated by the Federal President or the Foreign Minister. The signed conventions are then adopted into natural law by a transformation act with the consent or participation of the Bundestag (German Parliament) and Bundesrat (Federal Council) to then be applied in Germany. There are three safeguards in Germany to monitor national compliance with international human rights: the courts, parliament and politicians. In addition, civil society monitors the implementation of rights and reprimands the government if these are not sufficiently guaranteed. Most recently, the human rights report by Amnesty International named violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the press within Germany.
Finally, Hana Hamdan Saeed Al Khab explained the control mechanisms in Jordan. Similar to Germany, several regional, international and national reports are issued every year with recommendations on how to improve the protection of human rights. She emphasised in particular that Jordan must follow these recommendations, as they are often linked to the continuation of development aid.
IRZ would like to thank the experts and the participants for the lively exchange, which was convivial and goal-oriented, and is looking forward to further events in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice.
