EU Aid Initiative: €1 Billion Allocated to Lebanon for Stability and Migration Control

In a bid to bolster stability in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions, a new EU Aid Initiative has unveiled a substantial aid package of £1 billion for Lebanon.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced the initiative during her visit to Beirut, emphasizing its dual purpose of promoting stability and enhancing border management.

The EU’s commitment comes at a critical juncture, with ongoing conflicts in Gaza and heightened tensions between Iran and Israel underscoring the urgent need for stability in the region.

The aid package, spanning from this year until 2027, aims primarily to revitalise the Lebanese economy while also addressing the issue of border management, euphemistically referring to migrant and refugee control.

Accompanied by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides at a joint press conference, von der Leyen highlighted the significance of the aid package in bolstering Lebanon’s socioeconomic resilience and overall security.

Lebanon has shouldered the burden of hosting 1.5 to 2 million Syrian refugees for over a decade, with nearly 90% of them living below the extreme poverty line according to the United Nations.

Integration challenges persist, compounded by frequent racist incidents within the country.

Von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s ongoing support for Lebanon and its population, emphasising that the aid package would strengthen essential services such as education, social protection, and healthcare.

Furthermore, the EU intends to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces with equipment and training to enhance border management and combat smuggling.

The announcement comes amid concerns over escalating tensions between Israel and anti-Israeli factions, leading to displacement on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.

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