President Joseph Aoun met with a European Union delegation and ambassadors on Thursday, urging them to help Lebanon reclaim its full territory and restore state sovereignty. He warned that without a strong Lebanese Army, “security could crumble across the region,” a scenario “no one desires.”
He also called on Brussels to lift all sanctions on Lebanon and to convene a Euro‑Arab conference aimed at rebuilding the country’s economy in parallel with its journey toward full military and security autonomy.
On financial reform, Aoun said the banking‑restructuring law is in its final parliamentary stages and “we hope it will be passed by month’s end.” He added that a specialized team is “putting the finishing touches” on legislation to cover the country’s financial gap.
Regarding the refugee file, he pointed out that conditions in parts of Syria have stabilized enough to “begin a safe, dignified, coordinated return of displaced families.” He underlined ongoing security cooperation along the Lebanese‑Syrian border and reiterated Lebanon’s expectation that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ joint‑committee plan on disarming refugee camps be implemented promptly.
EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele praised Aoun’s “ambitious vision” for Lebanon’s future and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to an active presence in Beirut. The other European ambassadors confirmed they have already “taken steps” to address the refugee issue in line with Lebanon’s priorities.
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