The facade of the Grand Serail in Beirut, Feb. 13, 2024. (Credit: P.H.B.)
Last Friday, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati scheduled a Cabinet meeting for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The preliminary agenda includes 35 items, subject to possible additions, such as the case of Lebanese nationals missing in Syria — a topic brought back to the forefront following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Key agenda items include extending the agreement for Iraq to supply fuel to Electricité du Liban (EDL) and approving long-delayed draft decrees on the Public Procurement Authority's internal organization, stalled in government offices for over two years. Caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin will present a draft national strategy for integrated household waste management, accompanied by an environmental, social, and strategic impact study. This long-awaited strategy aims to tackle Lebanon's long-standing waste mismanagement and corruption.
The Cabinet will also discuss the approval of specifications for rebuilding buildings partially or fully destroyed by Israeli bombardments before the cease-fire with Hezbollah, effective Nov. 27. No further details have been provided.
Addressing the missing
The executive will review two reports on Lebanese citizens who are missing, abducted, or imprisoned in Syria. According to the Lebanese commission recently formed to oversee the case, an estimated 725 Lebanese detainees remain in Syria. The first report was prepared by this commission, while the second comes from the Committee for the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons in Lebanon, established in 2020 under Law No. 105 of 2018.
The current commission differs from a similar body formed in 2005, which investigated the same issue following the Syrian army's withdrawal from Lebanon after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. These are separate from the Committee of Families of the Missing in Lebanon, an NGO founded in 1982 during the Civil War and led by Wadad Halawani.
Additionally, the Cabinet is expected to endorse the creation of a free four-digit hotline for individuals to contact the operations room of the National Commission on the Missing.
Iraqi fuel and solar energy
Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayyad, an FPM-affiliated minister boycotting Cabinet meetings since the presidential vacuum began in Oct. 2022, submitted at least two items. The first seeks a one-year extension of the agreement that supplies EDL with Iraqi fuel oil. The barter deal, in place since summer 2021, allows Lebanon to exchange crude oil from Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) for refined fuel via third-party companies. This agreement, Lebanon's primary fuel source amid the country’s crises, was recently extended through January 2025 to fulfill the 1.5 million-ton quota.
Fayyad's second item pertains to amending one of the 11 solar farm contracts signed in 2023. According to a source at the Energy Ministry, the amendment concerns Ecosys, a partner in the Bekaa solar project consortium, which recently sold its shares to another party.
Public procurement authority
The Cabinet will review three draft decrees related to the Autorité des marchés publics, established by a 2021 reform to replace the tendering directorate. The decrees cover financial and administrative regulations, human resources frameworks, job descriptions, staffing, and member remuneration. Although the decrees underwent reviews by the Legislation and Consultation Committee and the Public Service Council, approval has been delayed for over two years. Once finalized and published, the authority will be able to recruit necessary staff to implement the public procurement code.
Industrial licensing and ministerial requests
The Industry Ministry has proposed approving new standards by Libnor related to air quality, heating oil, wastewater irrigation, children's play equipment, building glass, and meat quality. It also seeks to amend Article 15 of Decree No. 8018 of June 12, 2002, which determines fees for obtaining industrial licenses. Caretaker Minister Georges Boushikian has not provided clarification on the proposed changes.
Caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim is requesting approval for direct contracting with service providers, an item postponed from a previous meeting. Caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi seeks to amend the mechanism for granting aid to private educational institutions. Halabi will also present three draft decrees to rename faculties at Jami'at al-Sharq al-Dawliya, Balamand University, and USJ, among others.
Several ministries, including Health, Public Works, Interior, and Finance, have requested contract renewals with current service providers. Caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makari seeks approval for over 21,000 euros in equipment and "legal services" for TeleLiban, funded by a 2022 French grant. Lastly, the Youth and Sports Ministry plans to accept a donation of three competition boats from the Chinese company Hangzhou Kanghua Boat.
