EU and Lebanon: course of relations
1. The Temporary Commercial Agreement entered into force in 2003.
2. The Association Agreement entered into force in 2006.
- Association Agreement
- Assistance administrative mutuelle en matière douaniere
- Définition de la notion de produits originaires et aux méthodes de coopération administrative
- Echanges de produits agricoles transformés
- Importation au Liban de produits agricoles originaires de l'UE
- Importation dans l'UE de produits agricoles originaires du Liban
- Propriété intellectuelle, industrielle et commerciale
The Association Agreement covers the following areas:
- Free circulation of goods
- Financial cooperation
- Economic and sectorial cooperation
- Social and cultural cooperation
- Cooperation in the audiovisual and information fields
- Establishing a permanent political dialogue
3. An Action Plan, within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy, was presented and agreed on in 2006. It stipulates, among other issues, the following measures:
- Economic and social reforms and sustainable development
- Trade, market and legislative reform issues
- Cooperation in the fields of justice, freedom and security
- Intervention in the fields of transports, energy and environment, including water
- Information technology, media, research and development
- Cultural interactions
Action Plan (French)
4. EU funding (European Commission) promised and paid in:
- 1995 to 2006: € 300 million
- 2007-2010: € 187 million (promised)
5. The European Investment Bank loans:
- € 302 million (1996-2003)
- € 697 million (2004-2009)
6. EU fields of action in Lebanon: economic reform, support to the export sector, training, support to SMEs, industrial sector modernization, educational reform, telecommunications reform, justice reform, police modernization, human rights, support to NGOs…
List of Projects
7. Beneficiaries: central authorities, local authorities, civil society, private sector (SME), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Telecommunications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and other state departments…
8. Export to the UE (27 countries) :
| Year | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount (€ Billion) | 0.23 | 0.24 | 0.3 |
| Export to the EU/Total export | 18% | 11.7% | 13% |
9. Import of UE (27 countries) :
| Year | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount (€ Billion) | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| Import from the EU/Total import | 51% | 41.5% | 35% |
10. European direct investments*:
€ 182 million for the period 2003-2008, which constitutes approximately 3% of the foreign direct investments in Lebanon.
(*) From the following countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, UK and Sweden. (Source: ANIMA-MIPO)
Your reactions
I would like to be brief and thank Europa Jaratona program for its achievments in Jordan.
On: E-TVET reform (Jordan)
It is good to hear that there is someone who really cares about our historical monuments. While reading the article, I was hoping to find so many Tunisian names to make sure that, also, in our country there are people who are hell-bent on preserving what is left of a glorious history. Tunisia, thanks to its location, welcomed many civilizations whose leaders built huge and glorious buildings. Not only in cities near the shores, but also in the far west cities like Sbitla, Kasserin...
I believe that in order to save the surviving monuments, there should be a campaign to make Tunisians aware of the significance of such a loss if those buildings become ruins.
On: Initiatives to preserve Tunisian architecture
I have read this article with cautious and i was not happy of the approaches being written due i guess to lack of real understanding of current environmental issues we are facing. The problem of pollution will not be tackled only through fundings bec most of the money used is not appropriately used and if ever used we seek the traditional methods the old fashion way. We need to look at alternatives , less costs , better and more sustainable output. Waste problems are derived from mass consumerism and lack of understanding of what our lives should mean to us as far as human values and choices we should take in life. Building waste water treatment is needed but what is more needed is eduation and awereness and return to ethics and values. We can keep dumping money on projects but who would assure me that our resources are being well taken care of and not depleted in a fast way? Where is the concept of sustainibility?
On: Mediterranean pollution “hot spots” under control by 2020?
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