DAMASCUS. Dec 11 Financial cooperation between the European Union and Syria will gain new life this coining week with the European Investment Bank (EIB) loaning Syria money an estimated 66 million dollars for the first time in almost ten years, reports AFP

Francis Mayer, the EIB's vice-president, is expected in Damascus on December 14 to relaunch the institutions activities in Syria. Marc Pierini. the EU's representative in Syria, told AFP

Syrian officials will sign an agreement with the EIB tor an estimated 75 million euro loan, or 66 million dollars. The funds will go to bolster Syria's elet -tncity distribution. s|>eclflcallv with high-voltage power lines and extra sub-siations.

The way for new EIB loans was cleared when Berlin lifted its hank veto on Syria at the end of October, following an agreement restructuring Syrian debt to Germany, which is estimated at 1.25 billion euros, or 1 1 billion dollars.

Syria had already restructured its debt with Frame tn 1996 and with Italy in May 2000

Meanwhile. Syria's Minister of Slate for Planning. Issam Zaim. is scheduled to meet EU commissioner for external relations Chris Patten is Brussels on December 15.

Zaim and Patten will fix (he euro amount for the second phase of the EU's financial aid package to Syria, which falls under the EU's assistance program at Mediterranean countries (MEDA1