Daily Star - EU supports Lebanon reforms with 30 mln euros, 27 April 2012

By Hussein Dakroub

BEIRUT: The European Union voiced support Thursday for Lebanon’s democracy, announcing an additional 30-million-euro allocation with the aim of accelerating the country’s reforms.

The announcement was made following talks in Brussels between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, who declared that the EU supported Lebanon’s stability as well as political and economic reforms.

In an apparent political boost for the Mikati Cabinet, Barroso announced an additional 30 million euro allocation to Lebanon with the aim of bolstering its democracy. The amount comes on top of this year’s allocation of 62 million euros to Lebanon.

Barroso said he appreciated Mikati’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in Lebanon despite the wave of popular upheavals in some Arab countries. He said Lebanon has for long been a partner of the EU and an active member in the EU’s neighborhood policy.

“The EU supports peace and stability in the region. It also supports all those who are committed to the democratic and peaceful path,” he told a joint news conference with Mikati in Brussels.

“Our meeting today was constructive and fruitful. It was an opportunity to convey to Prime Minister Mikati a message of strong support and encouragement to press ahead with the necessary political, economic and social reforms,” Barroso said. He added that the European states are convinced the only way to guarantee long-term stability is through reforms.

“In the past few months, Lebanon has taken important steps toward supporting progress in the implementation of the European political agenda. However, we at the same time believe that more can be done,” Barroso said.

“With the aim of strengthening democracy in Lebanon, I am happy to announce an additional 30 million euro allocation from the SPRING (Support for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth) instrument ... This [amount] comes on top of allocation to Lebanon of 62 million euro,” Barroso said. “The message we want to send to Lebanon is very clear. We stand on Lebanon’s side,” he added.

For his part, Mikati said his government was determined to carry out political, economic and social reforms undeterred by turbulence in some Arab countries as a result of pro-democracy popular uprisings. He also defended his government’s policy to insulate Lebanon from the repercussions of the turmoil in Syria, saying most foreign states have praised this policy.

Mikati told Barroso maintaining stability in Lebanon would not prevent his government from carrying out all necessary reforms, no matter how painful they are.

“Lebanon has always constituted an example of tolerance and democracy for regional states. Amid the changes in the Arab world, we must maintain and boost these values,” Mikati said. “Therefore, we are serious about implementing political, economic and social reforms that will ensure long-term stability,” he added.

Referring to 13 months of popular upheaval against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Mikati said: “Lebanon’s position is fully clear. We have taken a decision to dissociate ourselves from what is happening in Syria because of our special relationship with Syria, including historic, economic and social ties. Also, 80 percent of our border is with Syria and our relationship with it goes far back.”

Acknowledging that rival March 8 and March 14 parties were deeply split over the crisis in Syria, Mikati said Lebanon’s interests could not be served by stirring up trouble in the country because of the unrest in the neighboring state.

“While we are dissociating ourselves from what is happening, we do not want to have more differences in our society, which is already divided,” he said. “Today, all states appreciate what we are doing. What is important is to try to maintain stability in Lebanon.”

Later, Mikati, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahas, held talks with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule on projects financed by the EU in Lebanon.

“We have discussed Lebanon’s reform efforts and the EU’s assistance based on the more for more principle,” Füle said after the meeting. “For the EU, it is important that Lebanon advances with reforms since they bring benefits to the people in the country and also open doors for more support and assistance from the EU.

Referring to the additional 30 million euro allocation to Lebanon, Fule said: “This top-up reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s reforms in the field of institution-building, democracy, including civil society, good governance and human rights as well as inclusive economic growth.”

Earlier Thursday, Mikati met with the president of the Belgian lower house of parliament, Andre Flahaut, and the president of the Belgian senate, Sabine de Bethune. Mikati said his government was fulfilling its humanitarian duties toward Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He noted the cooperation between Lebanon and international organizations in terms of assisting the 22,000 Syrian refugees in the country.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Apr-27/171583-eu-supports-lebanon-reforms-with-30-mln-euros.ashx#axzz1t3xxZ1UM