An EU envoy is scheduled for a visit to Lebanon, in what is believed to be the final attempt to end the country’s political deadlock before sanctions are unleashed.
Diplomatic sources told Annahar on Friday that Josep Borell, High Representative of the European Union, would arrive in Beirut on the same day and hold meetings with Lebanese officials.
The visit will be the “final chance” offered by the EU for Lebanese officials to end the government-formation stalemate that has blocked any political progress toward rescuing Lebanon from its compounding crises.
The partnership issue between Lebanon and France on the basis of preparing projects to be implemented according to a mechanism that began at the start of the current year, and will continue for seven years, constitutes an important part of the visit, the sources said.
However, France is leaving the door open in a final attempt to push for government formation while sanctions are being prepared to be presented by the EU soon.
France has been spearheading international efforts to resolve Lebanon’s political crisis for months, but to no avail.
The Lebanese leaders’ lack of cooperation with these efforts has prompted France and the EU to head down a more stringent path and utilize sanctions as a more powerful pressure tool.
