EU urges reforms after Lebanon govt confirmed

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Tuesday welcomed the confirmation of Lebanon’s new government and called on Beirut to kickstart urgent reforms needed to drag the country out of crisis.

“The announced agenda of the new government outlines important steps to address Lebanon’s multifaceted crises, including resuming negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, implementing structural reforms, notably of the electricity sector, and holding the 2022 elections as scheduled’’, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

“It is now time to begin the path to recovery with the credible implementation of urgent and essential reforms to address the needs and demands of the Lebanese people.”

Borrell said that “all political parties and their leaders have a responsibility to support and actively contribute to such efforts”.

On Monday, Lebanon’s parliament approved Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s new cabinet, tasked with salvaging the country from economic meltdown after 13 months of political deadlock.

The crisis has depleted central bank reserves, devalued the currency by more than 90 per cent and plunged three out of four citizens below the poverty line, while those who can are emigrating by the thousands.

The EU had threatened Lebanon’s political elite with sanctions if they did not come together to form a government.

Earlier, Lebanon’s parliament on Monday approved Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s new cabinet, tasked with pulling the country out of a deep economic crisis after 13 months of political deadlock.

The World Bank has called it one of the planet’s worst economic crises since the 1850s.

After a marathon eighthour session to examine the government’s action plan, 85 lawmakers voted for the new ministerial line-up while 15 voted against, according to a tally announced by speaker Nabih Berri.