The European Union has expressed its "disappointment and concern", at the lack of developments and the current situation in Lebanon.

"Lebanon's democratic institutions are grinding to a halt one after the other. First, the government, which is in a caretaker capacity since May 2022. Then, the President, whose seat is vacant since the end of October. And now, even at the municipal level. The May local elections have been postponed again and no new date has been set," EU High Representative Josep Borrell told the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a debate on Lebanon Tuesday evening.

He continued, "All this institutional erosion is unfolding against the background of a collapsing economy, a plummeting currency and a derelict banking sector." "And yet, there is no real sense of urgency among the Lebanese ruling elite. A staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is now more than a year old, and there is are no signs of its endorsement by political leaders," he said.

Borrell's speech was delivered on his behalf by EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic.

EU Member States will review the Framework of sanctions on Lebanon at the end of July, he said and warned that "all options are on the table." "Consequently, swift presidential elections, government formation, and municipal elections are more essential than ever," stressed the EU foreign policy chief.

He also said that the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon "is also of great concern" and added that the debate on Lebanon comes right before the opening of the seventh Brussels Conference on Syria, which starts on Wednesday.

Source: Kuwait News Agency