European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Lebanon to announce an economic aid package of €1 billion for the country on Thursday.
The visit comes with EU member state Cyprus increasingly anxious about a sharp rise in Syrian migrant numbers from Lebanon, just 185 kilometers (100 miles) from the Mediterranean island.
For months, Cyprus has lobbied the bloc, urging it to extend aid to Lebanon in a way similar to EU deals with Turkey, Tunisia, and, more recently, Egypt. Cyprus has told Brussels the number of migrants is no longer sustainable, and it has suspended the processing of asylum applications by Syrian nationals.
Lebanese officials had lately threatened to stop intercepting migrant boats destined for Europe unless Beirut receives more economic support.
Von der Leyen was accompanied by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on the visit.
“The bonds between Lebanon and Europe are deep and strong. President Christodulides and I are here to say that the EU strongly supports Lebanon and its people,” von der Leyen posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. “We want to reinforce our longstanding cooperation.”
rc/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
