On Tuesday 15 November, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced the adoption of the partnership priorities and the compact with Lebanon.
"The partnership priorities have just been adopted (...) Lebanon is the first country with which the European Union is signing this very ambitious strategic framework", Mogherini said during a press statement with Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. In reality, this adoption by written procedure by the EU-Lebanon Association Council took place on Friday 11 November, a European source told EUROPE.
The partnership priorities, over four years, establish a renewed framework for strengthened engagement and political cooperation between the EU and Lebanon. These priorities focus in particular on security and counter-terrorism, governance and the rule of law, growth and jobs opportunities, migration and mobility.
As for the compact, it defines specific reciprocal commitments to address the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon and to transform the situation into an occasion to improve Lebanon's socio-economic outlook, security, stability and resilience, the Council says in a press release. While the EU provides for a minimum allocation of €400 million for 2016-2017 as part of the compact, in addition to bilateral aid of over €80 million over the same period, Lebanon will have to provide a more favourable environment for refugees, and especially improve the regulatory framework on the registration and residence permits for refugees. Lebanon is currently hosting over 1.1 million Syrian refugees on its territory.
In addition, Mogherini also told press again that she hailed the election of a new president in Lebanon, Michel Aoun, more than two years after the end of the mandate of his predecessor, Michel Suleiman (see EUROPE 11658). She considered this election a way of opening up a space for all political parties to commit constructively to dialogue and to share the responsibility for responding to the needs of the Lebanese people. She added that national unity was crucial for the future of Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Bassil said that a government of national unity was due to be formed imminently. He added that he expected his country to initiate stability and dialogue in the region instead of being a source of tension and negativity.
Mogherini said Lebanon was a key actor and interlocutor for the EU as regards the future of Syria. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)