During the Stockholm Conference of Donors in support of Lebanon, the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner announced the allocation of 42 million Euros “as first contribution by the European Union to efforts aimed at the revival and reconstruction of Lebanon”, thus bringing to 100 million euros the total EU aid allocated to the ravaged country since the ceasefire. The new fund is divided into four chapters. i) A sum of 10 million for technical assistance to reconstruction (damage assessment, planning of structural interventions, coordination of actions). ii) A second sum of 18 million euros for the reinforcement of the competitiveness of the private sector (revival of the local economy, maintenance of incomes, support for small and medium businesses). iii) 4 million euros are being directly allocated to the Government in Beirut to guarantee security and respect for the rule of law. iv) Lastly, “to respond to the further needs defined by the Lebanese government”, the Commission has made available a sum of 10 million euros.
