EU donation of 8M euros 'to support stability, security, and peace in Lebanon'

The European Union (EU) announced Wednesday the granting of 8 million euros "to support stability, security, and peace in Lebanon, after 13 months of conflict." The project will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), supporting the law enforcement efforts of Lebanese security services in the aftermath of a destructive war with Israel.

The contract was signed at the headquarters of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in Beirut, in the presence of ISF Director General, General Raed Abdallah, Peter Wagner, Director of the EU's Foreign Policy Instruments Service (FPI), Sandra De Waele, EU Ambassador to Lebanon, and Blerta Aliko, UNDP Resident Representative in Beirut.

According to the EU statement, this aid supports "already fragile public institutions," whose capacity "to provide essential services to the population" has been limited due to the recent conflict with Israel in 2024-2025. "Security institutions continue to face numerous challenges in maintaining stability in a context of ongoing tensions," the statement added.

Security forces in Lebanon have largely suffered from the economic and financial crisis that has reduced, since 2019, the salaries of officers and devalued the country's currency. The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, and for which a cease-fire was signed on Nov. 27, 2024, has increased security challenges in the country.

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The EU recalls in its statement that in partnership with UNDP and UNODC, it helps communities affected by the conflict and facilitates their return to safe and stable areas. "The project will strengthen local conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives, as well as the capacity of the ISF to provide security services," the statement continues. Additionally, "[it] will support the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) in managing unexploded ordnance in conflict-affected areas," the statement adds. LMAC's mission "remains vital for eliminating land mines and explosive remnants of war, not only to protect lives but also to enable recovery, development and the safe return of displaced families," said Wagner.

For Waele, "This new program reflects our ongoing commitment to Lebanon and its security institutions in promoting peace and stability across the country at this critical time."

Aliko, for her part, assured that "by investing in conflict prevention, in supporting security services and in demining, we are not only addressing immediate risks, we are laying the foundations for long-term peace and development."

The UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa focused on a specific component of the project, prison reform in Lebanon. "Building on more than two decades of collaboration with national authorities and our expertise in criminal justice and prison reform, this project will help reduce tensions while strengthening rehabilitation and social reintegration, at a time when the need is most acutely felt," according to the organization.