EU ambassador to Lebanon says it's 'high time' to address challenges
Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf has said, during a reception at the EU residence in Beirut, that the EU has the tools to support Lebanon, should its decision makers decide to make the required reforms.
"This place and this flag are the symbol of a unique model in today’s world. A model that grew from an economic union between six countries to a strong partnership between 27 states, spanning many areas, from personal freedoms, justice and security to climate and health.
"While our union has grown geographically over the years, it is its founding principles that make it stand out. The European Union was built to pacify the European continent and help raise the living standards in Europe after two world wars. It allowed European countries to harmonize their political systems, modernize their public administrations, empower their judiciary and strengthen their economy. It has contributed to building strong state institutions that are as effective as they are accountable to their citizens. And most importantly, it has done so with a fundamental respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
"This is who we are – and this is exactly what we can offer to Lebanon," Tarraf said.
"We have the tools at our disposal to support Lebanon should its decision makers decide to transform its public sector, into one where public administration is governed with more transparency and accountability, where the judiciary is independent and empowered, and where there is a clear separation of powers that doesn’t paralyze the country at every opportunity," the EU Ambassador went on to say.
Tarraf added that "in this mind-set, we have supported Lebanon in reforming its governance system. We have helped establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission. We have contributed to the law on public procurement and have built the capacities of the Public Procurement Authority. We have helped the Government draft its Counter Terrorism Strategy. And we are currently following closely the drafting of the law on the independence of the judiciary."
"But our support can only match the ambitions of Lebanese decision makers," he said.
He explained that in 2018 at the CEDRE conference, the European Union and other organisations promised long-term investments to help modernize the country’s infrastructure. "This support was conditional on reforms. Five years later, and three years since Lebanon defaulted on its debt, we are still waiting for the reforms necessary to modernize state institutions and improve the governance in Lebanon."
The EU Ambassador stressed that "today, without a President, a fully empowered Government and a legislating Parliament in place, Lebanon’s decision-making capacity is paralyzed and economic losses are accumulating."
"It is high time to address these challenges. It is high time to bring the economy back on a path of recovery," Tarraf said.
Source: Naharnet
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