Press Release: Lebanon: Commission presents EUR 500 million assistance package at Paris Conference

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the International Donor Conference on Support to Lebanon in Paris on 25 January 2007. During the Conference, the European Commission will present a new assistance package bringing its total contribution since the conflict to around €500 million. This package, which will cover the period until 2010, demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to provide assistance to Lebanon not only in immediate reconstruction work, but also by laying the groundwork for a longer term recovery through support for crucial political and economic reforms. The European Commission’s long-standing co-operation with Lebanon has now been enhanced with the European Neighbourhood Action Plan, endorsed by Lebanon on 12 January 2007. The EU-Lebanon Action Plan is an instrument which will help to target the implementation of the reforms recently approved by the Lebanese Government.