European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 13 December 2012

New EU support to promote democratic reforms in Lebanon

Today, the EU has announced the launch of three new programmes in support of democratic reforms and stability in Lebanon. The funding is provided as part of the regional EU "Support to Partnership Reform and Inclusive Growth" (SPRING) programme. The projects aim to promote sustainable democratic reforms in targeted areas such as the protection of human rights, electoral reform and social stability and build on already on-going EU assistance.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, announcing the adoption of these programmes said: "Continuous support to deepen democracy and enhance social inclusiveness and stability is one the EU's principal objectives. In providing additional support to Lebanon to achieve this, the EU is proving its strong commitment to its partnership with this neighbouring country and considerably strengthening the impact of EU-Lebanon co-operation."

The total value of all three programmes is €22 million:

• A project of €10 million will further support civil society and the public administration in their efforts to improve the human rights record in Lebanon;

• A project of €6 million will complement on-going support to reform the electoral system;

• A third project of €6 million will provide strongly-needed assistance to upgrade infrastructure in Palestinian refugee camps.

Background

In April 2012, the President of the EU Commission, José Manuel Barroso, announced during the visit of Prime Minister Mikati to Brussels that Lebanon would benefit from the EU funded SRPING programme and thus receive additional funding to promote democratic reforms and sustainable and inclusive development.

The three programmes, totalling €22 million, were all designed with the aim of deepening on-going reforms meant to enhance democratic governance as well as social and economic sustainability and inclusiveness. Two other programmes of €4 million each in support of the reform of the judiciary and the security sector are also funded through the SPRING envelope for Lebanon, which amounts in total to €30 million.

All programmes are fully aligned with the priorities of both the EU funded umbrella programme SPRING and the most recent EU communications such as "A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the southern Mediterranean"¹ and "A new response to a changing Neighbourhood".

For more information

Website of the DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm