On Tuesday 18 July, Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Migrants Gebran Bassil called for the burden of Syrian refugees to be better shared out, as his country alone is hosting over 1.5 million refugees.
"The refugee crisis is an international issue that requires an international response driven by humanity and solidarity", he stated at the end of the 8th EU-Lebanon Association Council in Brussels. "We appreciate being praised for what we are offering, in particular to the displaced population, but we are disappointed with the lack of burden sharing and with the fact that most countries are trying to escape their international obligation of responsibility", he added. Bassil stated that his country was building bridges between communities, while others have the opposite tendency of building walls.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn underlined continuous European support. Since the start of the conflict in Syria, the EU has provided over €1.2 billion in aid and taken measures to help the country economically. Hahn also announced that the EU would, over the coming weeks, study the possibility of taking further measures, at the request of the Lebanese government.
During their meeting, the EU and Lebanon thus discussed the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. "The EU and Lebanon agreed that the only sustainable long-term solution for refugees and [those] displaced from Syria into Lebanon is their safe return to their country of origin, as conditions for such a return are met", the two sides said in their joint statement, adding that "both sides are, however, mindful to the imperative of building conditions for the safe return of refugees from Syria and displaced Syrians, including during the transition, in accordance with all norms of international humanitarian law and taking into account the interests of the host countries". Bassil highlighted the possibility of a return in the "safe" regions – a return that is "timely and gradual to begin with, in order to favour the rebuilding of trust between the components of the Syrian population, with the prospect of rebuilding Syria". Mogherini for her part underlined a "voluntary" return.
Elsewhere, the EU hailed the recent progress in political terms in Lebanon, especially the election of its president, the formation of a government in December, and the adoption of the new electoral law on the basis of which the parliamentary elections will take place in May 2018. Mogherini, Hahn, and Bassil also discussed the fight against terrorism.
On the sidelines of the Association Council, the EU and Lebanon concluded negotiations for the international agreement on Lebanon's participation in the partnership for research and innovation in the Mediterranean area (PRIMA). This programme will focus on effective and sustainable food production and on the supply of water. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)