European Parliament 2014-2019

Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

30.6.2015

MISSION REPORT

12th Interparliamentary meeting European Parliament - Lebanese Chamber of Deputies

Delegation for Relations with Mashrek countries:

Members of the mission: Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL) (Mission Chair) Ramona Nicole Manescu (EPP) Andrea Cozzolino (S&D) Cristina Winberg (EFDD)

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EN United in diversity EN Introduction

The overall aims of the mission were:  To meet Lebanese authorities and institutional partners, in primis the Lebanese Chamber of Representatives;  To discuss with Lebanese stakeholders the cooperation between and the European Union, notably in light of the current review of the European Neighbourhood Policy;  To accomplish a fact-finding mission to the Bekaa Valley in order to visit an informal Syrian refugee camp and a school, attended by Lebanese and refugee children;  To meet Lebanese and Syrian civil society and NGOs;  To assess with international, Lebanese and Syrian interlocutors the situation in neighbouring Syria, also in view of a possible ad hoc mission to Damascus; The programme of the visit included high-level meetings with the Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Social Affairs, the heads of the main political parties1, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and of the Lebanon-EU friendship group of the Lebanese Parliament, the Intelligence Director of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The Delegation also met with representatives of international organisations, notably the United Nations, and with NGOs working mainly on refugee issues. The Delegation visited Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley in order to assess the situation on the ground. It also discussed with international, Lebanese and Syrian interlocutors the Syrian crisis. The EP Delegation wishes to express its gratitude to the Lebanese authorities, in Brussels and in Beirut for the facilitation of this visit. In a similar vein, the delegation underlines that both the EU Delegation to Lebanon and the EU Delegation to Syria (partly relocated in Beirut) spared no efforts in devising an intensive programme of activities and meetings, which allowed the delegation to make the most of its visit and better grasp ground realities.

A political impasse at a time of regional security challenges All Lebanese interlocutors insisted on the risks that the Syrian conflict further spreads to Lebanon, which it had already done to a yet limited extent with the mass influx of refugees and the presence of terrorist groups in the North-Eastern region of Ersal. The discussions were notably held with the major political parties and actors -Parliament Speaker , Future Movement leader Fouad Siniora, Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammed Raad and General Aoun leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.

The cooperation between Lebanon and the European Union Fully aware of the difficult internal and regional situation Lebanon is faced with, the EU is trying to mobilize its full set of cooperation instruments in support of the country. Apart from the classical cooperation areas, the EU and its Member States are putting emphasis on security

1 Despite willingness on both sides, the meetings requested with Messrs. Walid Joumblatt and Samir Geagea could not take place due to incompatible agendas

PE554.164v01-00 2/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN in general and support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in particular. In this respect, the EU Delegation to Lebanon is the first and so far only EU Delegation to have a military attaché. Within the context of the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy review (ENP), Lebanon is keen to improve and strengthen its relations with the European Union in all relevant fields, ranging from trade to technical assistance, cultural cooperation as well as student exchanges. In this context, the majority of Delegation interlocutors expressed the wish to enhance mobility and visa facilitations between the EU and Lebanon. They strongly advocated that EU should receive many more asylum seekers and refugees, in order to alleviate the heavy burden on Lebanon. The importance Lebanon attaches to the ENP was demonstrated with the ministerial meeting convened by Lebanon shortly after the mission, on 24 June 2015, and which brought together European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Arab Foreign Ministers of the Southern Neighbourhood and the Secretary General of the Arab League. Invited by the Lebanese Speaker, President Martin Schulz was represented by Vice-President David-Maria Sassoli.

The spill-over of the Syrian crisis: an existential threat By way of minimal consensus among political leaders, Lebanon officially follows since 2012 a policy of "dissociation" from the Syrian crisis in order to preserve its national security, stability and unity. The fluxes of Syrian refugees, in addition to the presence of 400.000 Palestinian refugees, put severe political, security and economic strains on the country. The Syrian crisis is considered with anxiety by the vast majority of Lebanese. All are acutely aware that, despite its best "dissociation" efforts, Lebanon cannot insulate itself from Syria and that any worsening of the situation in the neighbouring country is bound to have immediate and severe repercussions inside Lebanon. Speaker Berri warned the delegation against the danger of a possible advent of one or several religious states in Syria. In his own words, "Lebanon, with its 17 religious communities, is a wonderful but very fragile laboratory of coexistence, which probably would not survive the partition of Syria along communal lines."

Syrian refugees: "a ticking bomb" for Lebanon As of May 2015, 1,183,327 refugees had been registered by UNHCR. However, following instructions from the government of Lebanon, UNHCR Lebanon has temporarily suspended new registrations. The total number of Syrian refugees is estimated by the Lebanese government at 1.6 million, which represent more than a third of Lebanon's 4.4 million population. Contrary to the situation in Jordan and Turkey, there are no UNHCR-administered refugee camps in Lebanon. While the UNHCR has commended Lebanon for its open-door policy and hospitality, it also noted a drastic decrease in the number of Syrians given refuge since the government introduced stricter rules at the border in June 2014. These rules were formalised on 5 January 2015 with the introduction of a visa regime for Syrians. To enter Lebanon, Syrian refugees now need to provide documentation and a 'justified purpose'. UNHCR has expressed concern over the extent to which 'exceptional humanitarian cases' will be permitted entry under the new visa rules. Lebanon not having ratified the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention, The legal status of refugees in the country remains unclear. Nevertheless, from the outset of the crisis, Lebanese have displayed remarkable solidarity

CR\1069259EN.doc 3/13 PE554.164v01-00 FR towards their Syrian neighbours. Speaker Berri recalled that, during the 2006 war with Israel, up to 130.000 Lebanese citizens had been welcomed in Syria. Syrian refugees have been given access to Lebanon's health and education systems whenever possible, which has not always been the case, given the fact that national capacities are terribly over-stretched. With about 50 % of the Syrian refugees under the age of 18, the Lebanese educational system has been especially burdened. Despite enrolment programmes, 300.000 out of 400.000 Syrian children in Lebanon still lack schooling. Schooling is therefore accessible only to 100.000 Syrian children, in the so called "second shift" of the afternoon, after the morning classes attended by Lebanese children. The delegation had the occasion to visit children during their lessons, where teachers helped them adjust to the requirements of the Lebanese curriculum. On the occasion of its visit to an informal refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, the delegation could meet with refugees settled in emergency tents, exposed to the harshness of the climate. Despite the efforts of the humanitarian organisations, they often lacked basic facilities. Some had to pay a rent of 100 USD per tent to the owner of the terrain; compared with the 19 USD monthly allowance granted in June by the UNHCR to registered refugees, children were often obliged to work (e.g. by collecting scrap metal). The UNHCR indicated that the amount of the monthly allowance distributed was commensurate to the donors' response to its emergency appeal and that, unless the latter increased quickly and significantly, it could not pursue its support beyond October. General Edmond Fadel, the Head of Intelligence Directorate of the Army, briefed the delegation about the settling of Syrian refugees in most parts of the country, without official refugee camps' structures (so as to avoid a repetition of the Palestinian precedent). Their presence incurred concrete danger of radicalisation: the precarious situation of Syrian youth in Lebanon made them a potentially easy target for recruitment on the part of extremist movements. All Lebanese politicians insisted that, despite their willingness to continue to support Syrian refugees, Lebanon was crumbling under their sheer numbers. The drastic increase of population overstretched the country's capacities, if only in terms of basic infrastructures such as water and electricity. The official policy of the government was to decrease their numbers, notably through a closure of the border and the 'de-registration' of Syrian citizens deemed economic rather than political refugees. Some Lebanese politicians believed that the issue of the Syrian refugees was a 'ticking bomb' for the Lebanese society and institutions, which no one knew how to deal with.

"Syria is falling apart, very quickly" During the Mission, the Delegation met with concerned persons linked to Syria crisis and UN diplomats, notably Ms. Khawla Mattar, Head of the Damascus office of UN Special Envoy Steffan De Mistura. Mrs Mattar argued that already half the population was displaced or exiled; since 2011, the life expectancy has been cut down by 20 years, from 75 to 55. The delegation also learned that about a concerted effort in some of the international and regional media to rebrand the Al-Qaeda affiliated-JAN as an "acceptable" alternative to both ISIS and the regime. Depicting their terrorist ideology and behaviour, Ms. Mattar and all other interlocutors were adamant that this was absolutely not the case. The massacre of 22 villagers

PE554.164v01-00 4/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN in the Jabal Druze shortly before the mission was a case in point. All Syrian interlocutors were opposed to the imposition of sanctions, which hurt people more than the regime. The Syrian government was still managing somehow to pay salaries, even in territories over which it had lost control such as Raqqa. The key message was that the humanitarian and security situation kept worsening at unseen levels and that foreign countries should stop adding fuel to the fire. In the immediate, some key interlocutors insisted that the main action which the EU should take would be to exert utmost pressure on Turkey so as to stop the cross-border inflow of funds, weapons and foreign fighters into Syria. Several Lebanese political leaders criticised the international community for its inaction and lack of strategy in the Syrian crisis. They called for concerted and intensified action on the part of the international community to solve the conflict. As far as the possible way ahead towards a political solution was concerned, Speaker Berri recalled that the 15-year-long ended in 1989 only, with the Taif agreement, where a compromise solution was imposed from the outside through the agreement between the major external actors.

Conclusions and recommendations

The delegation reiterates its strong support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability of Lebanon. It encourages all the political and social forces to overcome the institutional impasse, ensure the effective functioning of all the national institutions, notably through the election of a new President, acknowledging that all these decisions will have to be taken by the Lebanese people. The delegation acknowledges that Lebanon urgently needs more support from the international community, including the European Union, to help the country face the Syrian refugee challenge. The EU needs to continue to mobilize all its cooperation instruments in support of Lebanon. Within the context of the review of the European Neighbourhood policy , EU cooperation should be further enhanced, notably in the fields of: - security and justice, including counter-radicalization; - capacity-building of the Lebanese administration at both national and local levels, where specific solutions can sometimes be addressed more efficiently. - mobility dialogue and visa facilitation, as part of the effort to develop a holistic approach to migration in the Mediterranean; - specific cooperation on asylum: in cooperation with Lebanon and the UNHCR, the EU and its Member States should look primarily to local and regional solutions but also support the relocation of a considerable number of Syrian refugees to European countries, at least for the time being; - targeted support to vulnerable populations, including refugees, but also to local populations; - targeted support on primary and secondary education: it is of vital importance to provide quality education to each child residing in Lebanon, in order to ensure the future of the otherwise "lost generation". In this respect, the delegation suggests that the EU launches

CR\1069259EN.doc 5/13 PE554.164v01-00 FR together with Lebanon an international conference aiming at finding concrete educational options to each refugee child. At a time when it faces such an acute crisis, the EU needs to express more political and diplomatic solidarity towards its Lebanese neighbour and partner. With this in mind, the European Parliament should demonstrate more by multiplying concrete actions: - the delegation suggests that President Schulz invites Speaker Berri, his counterpart, to visit the Parliament in Brussels of Strasbourg; - it invites the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) to look into the possibility to select Lebanon as a priority country for its Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach (CDSA); - it reiterates its full support to AFET's timely initiative to hold a joint hearing on Lebanon with the Mashreq Delegation in October or November 2015. The focus should be on the Lebanese historical experience: by looking at how the Taif agreement occurred and how Lebanon reshaped its body politic in order to ensure the effective inclusion of all communities in the political fold. Given the acute security risks posed to Lebanon by the expansion of ISIS/Daesh, Jabhat Al Nusra and other terrorist groups, with its unavoidable spill-over effects of the Syrian war on Lebanon, the international community should redouble its efforts to find a peaceful, inclusive political solution of the Syrian conflict, also in order to create conditions for the refugees to return to their homes. In this context, the Delegation fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura as well as the idea to convene an international conference on Syria with the participation of all countries of the region. Recalling that this position was already supported by the European Parliament in its 30 April 2015 EP Resolution1, the delegation believes that the concerted efforts of the international community towards such a conference are more urgent than ever. Moreover, the delegation is convinced that the ad hoc mission to Damascus called for by the same 30 April 2015 EP Resolution2 should be carried out urgently. The delegation calls on the concerned EP Committees and Delegations to discuss the matter and set up an ad hoc delegation, as requested by letter by the Members who undertook the delegation to President Schulz, and for info to Ms Mogherini, and Mr Panzeri.

1 This position has been already expressed by the European Parliament in its 30 April 2015 Resolution which "reiterated the call for a sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process on the basis of the Geneva communiqué of June 2012, leading to a genuine political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and enables them independently and democratically to determine their own future; welcomes the announcement that renewed Geneva talks will be held in May between the Assad regime, the opposition, UNSC members and regional powers including Iran." (European Parliament resolution of 30 April 2015 on the situation of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria (2015/2664(RSP)) 2 See footnote on page 2, introductory section

PE554.164v01-00 6/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

- The Chair -

19/06/2015 Press statement

Led by Ms. Marisa Matias, and composed of Ms Ramona Manescu, Mr Andrea Cozzolino and Ms Kristina Winberg, the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Mashreq countries undertook a mission to Lebanon from 17 to 19 June 2015. During its visit, the Delegation met with the representatives of the Parliament, the Government, civil society and NGOs. The Delegation also visited a school in the Bekaa Valley, attended by Syrian refugee children, and an informal refugee camp. The Delegation also discussed the Syrian war with Lebanese, Syrian and UN representatives.

Following its visit to Lebanon, the Delegation would like to express its gratitude to the Lebanese authorities and main political leaders for the very warm welcome and fruitful exchanges of views. The Delegation expresses its full support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability of the country. It encourage all the political and social forces to overcome the institutional impasse, ensure the effective functioning of all the national institutions, notably the election of a new President, acknowledging that the all these decisions will have to be taken only by the Lebanese people.

The Delegation appreciates all the efforts and the great solidarity displayed by the Lebanese authorities and people to provide assistance to one and half million Syrian refugees. Lebanon urgently needs an enhanced support of the international community, including the European Union, to help the country face this huge challenge. The EU and its Member States should do more to provide asylum and enhanced assistance to the Syrian refugees. In this context, the Delegation highly values the efforts by UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRWA and other agencies in alleviating the suffering of the refugees and the most vulnerable people, and calls for a continued and reinforced support of these efforts. Of vital importance is to provide education to every single refugee child, in order to ensure the future of the otherwise "lost generation".

The Delegation is particularly concerned about the acute security risks posed to Lebanon by the expansion of Daesh, Jabhat Al Nusra and other terrorist groups, with the possible spill-over effects of the Syrian war on Lebanon, and recognizes the importance of the Lebanese Armed Forces in keeping the internal security. To help Lebanon to cope with the challenge, the international community should redouble its efforts to find a peaceful, inclusive political solution of the Syrian conflict, also in order to create conditions for the refugees to return to their homes. In this context, the Delegation fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura as well as the idea of an international conference on Syria with the participation of all countries of the region.

The Delegation reiterates its support to UNIFIL and its essential role in monitoring the border security.

The Delegation believes that all tools of the European Neighborhood Policy should be used to promote closer ties between the EU and Lebanon. In this context, it strongly supports the launching of the mobility dialogue, and hopes that it will unleash its full potential.

CR\1069259EN.doc 7/13 PE554.164v01-00 FR Draft Programme

Visit to Lebanon of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq Countries 16-20 June 2015

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Time Institution Venue

Arrival at International Airport, Beirut MJ (Driver AZ for airport pick- (as per table attached) up. Will wait behind the passport control) Check in Phoenicia Hotel Intercontinental 20.00 Dinner with Mrs. Angelina Eichhorst, Ambassador Hotel Phoenicia – Head of EU Delegation and Eau de Vie (10 pers. max) Mr. Anis Nacrour, Chargé d'Affaires at the EU Delegation to Syria

PE554.164v01-00 8/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN Wednesday 17 June 2015

Time Institution Venue

10.00 Departure to Palais Bustros 10.30 Meeting with H. E. Mr. Gebran Bassil, Minister of Palais Bustros Foreign Affairs 11.15 Departure to Ain El Tineh 11.45 Meeting with H. E. Mr. Nabih Berri, Speaker of Ain El Tineh the Lebanese Parliament 12.30 Departure to Lebanese Parliament 13.15 Meeting with Members of the EU-Lebanon Lebanese Parliament Friendship Group of the Lebanese Parliament and Office of the Parliamentary the President of the Parliamentary Committee for Committee for Foreign Foreign Affairs: Affairs

 H. E. Mr. Yassine Jaber  Mr. Anwar El Khalil  Mrs. Nayla Tueini  Mr. Mohammad El Hajjar  Mr. Ali Bazzi  Mr. Hagop Pakradonian  H. E. Mr. Abdel Latif el Zein

14.15 Lunch at Karam Restaurant Karam Restaurant 15.00 Departure to Haret Hreik 15:30 Meeting with MP Mohammed Raad Haret Hreik 16.30 Departure to Beit Al Wassat 17:00 Meeting with H. E. Mr. Fuad Siniora, Member of Beit Al Wassat the Lebanese Parliament and President of the Future Movement 17:45 Departure to Villa Paradiso – Gemayzé (optional) Gemayzé or return to Hotel 18:00 UNHCR Reception (optional) 19.15 Meeting with Mr. Matthias Schmale, Director of Hotel Phoenicia UNRWA Lebanon Hiram Free evening

CR\1069259EN.doc 9/13 PE554.164v01-00 FR Thursday 18 June 2015

Time Institution Venue

08.45 Departure from Hotel to Ministry of Social Affairs 09.15 Meeting with H.E. Rachid Derbas, Minister of Badaro Social Affairs 10.00 Departure to Qab Elias in the Bekaa Valley 11.15 Visit of Refugee projects on Education Bekaa UNHCR, UNICEF 13.30 Departure to Yarzé and Lunch in the bus 14.45 Meeting with General Edmond Fadel, Director of Yarzé Intelligence Lebanese Armed Forces 15.30 Departure to Rabieh and Lunch in the bus 16.00 Meeting with H. E. General Michel Aoun, Leader Rabieh of the Free Patriotic Movement 17.00 Departure to Grand Serail 17.30 Meeting with H. E. Mr. Tammam Salam, President Grand Serail of the Council of Ministers, Grand Serail 18.00 Return to Hotel 19.45 Departure to Liza 20.30 Dinner with representatives of Civil Society on Liza Human Rights and Democracy  Mr. Nadim Houry, Human Rights Watch  Mr. George Ghali, Association Libanaise pour l 'Education et la Formation (Act for Human Rights)  Mr. Wadih Al-Asmar, Centre Libanais des Droits Humains  Rev. Prof. Fadi Daou, Adyan Foundation

PE554.164v01-00 10/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN Friday 19 June 2015 (Day organised by the EU Delegation to Syria)

Time Institution Venue

9.00 Greeting at Hotel with Mr. Anis Nacrour Hôtel Phoenicia 9.30 Departure from Hotel 9.45 Presentation of the Modus Operandi of the EU EU Delegation - Mezzanine Delegation to Syria, temporarily re-located to Beirut

Discussion of the latest developments on the ground 10.30 Meeting with the EU HoMs Syria present in Beirut Mezzanine 11.30 Meeting with Mezzanine  Ms. Khawla Mattar, Head of the Office of the Special Envoy of the United Nations to Syria in Damascus  Mr. Eriko Hibi, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Syria

(Meeting together with the EU HoMs) 13.00 Departure to lunch 13.15 Business Lunch with Bab Sharki  Mr. Yazid Sayegh, Senior Fellow Rue Trabaud, Ashrafieh Researcher at the Carnegie Middle East Center  Ms. Marianne Gasser, Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to Syria 15.00 Return to EU Delegation 15.30 Press Conference Press room 16.30 Departure to Hotel 17.00 Working meeting Hotel Phoenicia - Lobby 18.15 Departure to Mr. Nacrour Residence 18.30 Reception and exchange of views with Residence of the Chargé representatives of Syrian Civil Society d'Affaires of EU Delegation to Syria, Mr. Anis Nacrour

Saturday 20 June 2015

Time Institution Venue

Departure

CR\1069259EN.doc 11/13 PE554.164v01-00 FR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2009 - 2014

Delegation for relations with the Mashreq counties

17 - 19 June 2015 Beirut Lebanon

PARTICIPANTS LIST

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Ms Marisa MATIAS Portugal GUE/NGL Chair of the Delegation Ms Nicole Ramona MANESCU Romania PPE 1 VP of the Delegation Mr Andrea COZZOLINO Italy S&D Mr Kristina WINBERG Sweden EFD

ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR POLITICAL GROUPS

EPP Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) S&D Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats ALDE Group of the Alliance of Democrats and Liberals for Europe Greens/EFA Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance ECR European Conservatives and Reformists Group GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left EFD Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group NI Non-attached members

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DG EXTERNAL POLICIES

Mr Francois MASSOULIE Euromed & Middle East Unit Mr Rok KOZELJ Euromed & Middle East Unit

PE554.164v01-00 12/13 CR\1069259EN.doc EN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DG INTERPRETATION AND CONFERENCES

Mr Roberto AQUINO Ms Valentina VETRI

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT POLITICAL GROUP STAFF

Ms Elisa RESCHINI GUE/NGL Mr Eldar MAMEDOV S&D

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