Brussels, 23/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner Poul Nielson has signed a financing agreement by which the EU is granting 25 million euro towards financing the creation in Lebanon of a "Social and Economic Development Fund". For its part, the Lebanese Government is providing a contribution that the European Commission spokesperson defined as "substantial". The project aims to reduce poverty by providing vulnerable groups with better access to social services and creating jobs in local activities and small companies. EU aid is being funded by the Meda Programme, which, since 1996, has provided Lebanon with 153 million euro.