Brussels, 23/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Lebanon are to meet on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the European General Affairs Council, for the third session of the Cooperation Council (to be replaced by the Association Council as soon as ratification procedures are finalised for the EU-Lebanon agreement signed in June 2002). The meeting, held at ministerial level, will allow stock to be taken of cooperation since the enforcement, on 1 March 2003, of the interim agreement which anticipates implementation of trade provisions contained in the association agreement. One of the main themes tackled will be the structuring of economic dialogue and the improvement of economic consultation mechanisms with a view to implementing the association agreement. Emphasis will also be placed on the need to intensify the reform process in Lebanon which has been given encouragement from the international community and received pledges of aid amounting to EUR 3.4 billion in the form of loans and donations. The EU admits it is concerned by the time lost in implementing these economic reforms while saying it is aware of the magnitude of efforts required. It is, however, willing to provide assistance to Lebanon to help it modernise its administrative and economic structures and to support cooperation envisaged in several fields: energy, transport, financial services, trade, fight against money laundering and counterfeiting, as well as immigration, and the practical implementation of the "re-entry clause".
A "national plan" is being prepared under the "neighbour policy" of the EU. On the subject of political dialogue, mainly on human rights, the EU plans to encourage Lebanon to promote respect of democratic rights (press, women's rights, follow-up of elections foreseen this year) and will seize the opportunity provided to congratulate it for having given a positive answer to its appeal against the death penalty. The Lebanese government recently commuted the death penalty pronounced against six individuals to a life sentence. The session will also make it possible to discuss the political situation in the Mediterranean region and the Arab world and, above all, the fight against terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.