European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday a billion-euro financial aid package for Lebanon, partly to help stem the flow of refugees to Europe.
“We discussed how we can strengthen our political and economic relations and support the security and stability of Lebanon,” von der Leyen said during a visit to Beirut. “To underline our support, I can announce a financial envelope of one billion euros for Lebanon which would be available from this year until 2027.”
The announcement follows a sharp increase in the number of Syrian migrants arriving in EU member country Cyprus, prompting Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to seek help from the European Union.
“To help you manage migration, we are committed to keeping legal pathways open to Europe and resettling refugees from Lebanon to the European Union. At the same time, we count on your good cooperation to prevent illegal immigration and combat migrant smuggling,” von der Leyen said in a press release alongside Christodoulidis and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
More than 2,000 people arrived in Cyprus by sea in the first three months of 2024, compared to just 78 for the same period last year, according to Cypriot government data.
Politico
