MEPs acknowledged Lebanon's struggle with the enormous migration flows and voiced their concerns about the internal crisis there and growing extremism across the region, in a Foreign Affairs Committee debate with its Prime Minister Tammam Saeb Salam on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Salam said that the policy of dissociation from Syria had failed in certain situations and that Lebanon was struggling with extreme migration flows due to the spillover effects of the Syrian conflict.
Questioned by MEPs on the current situation of his country, Mr Salam admitted there was an internal crisis in Lebanon but he said he had confidence in democracy. Commenting on the spread of the so-called “Islamic state” and growing extremism in the area, he stressed the "need for a peace settlement, otherwise more extremism will prevail".
Mr. Salam also said the EU had been successful and helpful with its bilateral programmes, but that "Lebanon will need more humanitarian aid and financial support".
AFET Press release