Army Commander Joseph Aoun (far right) met Gert Jan Koopman, Girector-General of the European Commission, in Yarze (Baabda) on Monday. (Credit: National News Agency)
Chief Commander of the Lebanese Army Joseph Aoun met on Monday in Yarze (Baabda) with Gert Jan Koopman, the current Director-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR) at the European Commission.
According to an army statement, the two officials discussed "the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as developments at the border" between southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
No statements were issued following the meeting. Earlier, Koopman met with caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad, during which they visited a healthcare center in Burj Hammoud, north of Beirut.
The Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) manages the majority of the financial and technical assistance that the EU provides to neighboring countries.
In May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's strong support for Lebanon and announced a grant of one billion euros under existing programs. Many in Lebanon viewed this grant as an attempt to secure the continued presence of Syrian refugees on Lebanese territory.