The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Friday 16 July that the EU has taken note of the fact that the Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, has recused himself from the formation of the government. Violence broke out after Mr Hariri’s announcement was made.
With the country having been without a fully empowered government for almost a year, the High Representative once again called on all political forces in Lebanon to support the urgent formation of a government. “Parliamentary consultations to this end should start without delay”, he warned in a statement. According to Mr Borrell, Lebanon needs a government that is capable of carrying out key economic and governance reforms and needs to prepare for the 2022 elections, “which need to take place on schedule”. He also noted that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund remained essential to rescue the country from financial collapse.
“It is the responsibility of Lebanese leaders to solve the current domestic, self-made crisis. Unity and responsibility are needed to address the country’s multiple challenges and meet the legitimate aspirations of the Lebanese people”, insisted the High Representative.
On Friday 16 July, France announced the organisation – on 4 August, one year to the day after the explosion in the port of Beirut – of a new international conference on Lebanon “to respond to the needs of the Lebanese, people whose situation is deteriorating every day”.
EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday 12 July to put in place a sanctions regime against those Lebanese leaders deemed responsible for adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach (see EUROPE 12760/12). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)