The European Union’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ralph Tarraf, called on Lebanese decision-makers on Thursday 26 August to form a government and take the necessary reforms and measures to get Lebanon out of the current crisis.
“We are very concerned by the rapid deterioration of the economic, financial, security, and social crisis”, Mr Tarraf said after meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and President Michel Aoun, and before a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
“Lebanese decision-makers must live up to their responsibilities. The moment to act is now”, he added.
The ambassador explained that the authorities were struggling to maintain the provision of essential services and commodities, while the Lebanese were suffering from an acute economic crisis. According to him, the explosion of a petrol tank in Akkar, which killed around 30 people and injured dozens, is “another example of people paying the price of political inaction”.
According to Mr Tarraf, as soon as a Lebanese government is formed, the EU will relaunch negotiations on the priorities of its bilateral partnership with Lebanon and will consider a macro-financial assistance package, if a disbursement programme with the International Monetary Fund is put in place.
“We also offer our support to the 2022 electoral process”, he said.
At the end of July, the EU Council established a framework for targeted sanctions against individuals and entities that undermine democracy or the rule of law in Lebanon (see EUROPE 12773/15). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)