Debate: Situation in Lebanon
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: FR

Thank you for including Lebanon on this agenda. It is particularly important at this moment. One year ago, the devastating explosion in Beirut highlighted the acute economic, financial, social and political crisis that was engulfing Lebanon, and still is engulfing Lebanon.  We provided substantial assistance to address immediate needs and support the recovery, but at the same time, we have been calling on the Lebanese authorities – I myself travelled to Lebanon in order to call on them face to face – for the results of the investigation into the causes of this explosion and most importantly, to encourage the Lebanese political leaders to set their differences aside and to form a government, urgently, with a strong mandate to attend to the victims and address the country’s needs before a financial explosion occurs.  During my visit to Lebanon last June I was very clear with all my interlocutors that we will keep doing our best to help those in need in Lebanon, but that this was a self-inflicted crisis and they had to take responsibility immediately – even threatening them with the possibility of sanctions if they were unable or unwilling to face the situation in their country.  I insisted that they agree on a government, that they implement urgent reforms and reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund; without it, it was not possible to continue providing financial assistance.  I also insisted on preparations for the 2022 elections – parliamentary, presidential and municipal – and to ensure that they were free, transparent, fair and of course, according to the schedules.  Lebanon has changed. President Macron has said that, many times. The Lebanese model is broken. Now that more than half of the population lives in poverty it cannot be a surprise that migration is on the rise. Fuel and power shortages are so severe now that in some places in Lebanon, there is no more than one hour of electricity per day. One hour of electricity per day in Lebanon! No bread, no water, no hospitals. Empty shelves in the pharmacies and in the stores.  We have been discussing Lebanon in every meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council since March, and now I am happy that the announcement last Friday that President Aoun and Prime Minister Mikati have signed a decree to form a new government is good news, an indispensable step in the right direction. We are encouraging Prime Minister Mikati to resume negotiations with the IMF – the only way to avoid a financial collapse, which it is on the edge of. We’re standing ready to continue assisting further if the new government gets critical measures and reforms underway.  So it’s good news that we have a government, but we should have had it one year before, six months before. I hope that it’s not too late. I hope this government will be able to face the crises in the country. I hope that this new government will confirm this endeavour and certainly I wish every success to Prime Minister Mikati.  But this is also a good moment for Parliament to express, to address to the new Lebanese authorities, our commitment to support, but also our requirement for them to act. Because Lebanon’s problems can only be solved by the Lebanese people and by the Lebanese Government and by the Lebanese political classes, which for a long time, too much time, have not been not fulfilling their commitments to their population.  Thank you for the debate that’s going to come. I’m sure it will help us to address the situation in Lebanon.