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COUNTRY PROFILES
lebanon
Lebanon – background information
General Information on Lebanon
The Lebanese GDP presented no growth in 2000 and only 1% in
2001. There are indications of a slight improvement in growth
in 2005. Unemployment rate was 8 % in 2001. The government
faces a daunting task of coping with a crippling public debt
(€ 30 billion, or 160% of GDP). Lebanon has firmly embraced
the task of introducing liberal economic policies, tax reform
and privatisation. The absence of an Arab-Israel peace treaty
has brought complexities in the Lebanese foreign policy. A
milestone in Lebanon’s recovery after the civil war was the
withdrawal of Israeli forces from South Lebanon in May 2000
but the tense in the relationships with Israel has not ceased.
A co-operation Agreement between the Republic of Lebanon and
the European Community has been signed on 03/05/1977. Since
then, Lebanon has received almost 1,8 billion euro in EC assistance:
553 million euro in EIB loans (as well as 7 million euro Commission
special loans, 3 million euro risk capital managed by EIB);
332 million euro in EC grants (four Protocols, MEDA I, other
budget lines); more than 900 million euro from Member States
(Italy 50%, France 32%, Germany 14%).
Financial assistance of MEDA I (1995-2000) amounts to 166
million euro. Indicative funding for grants under MEDA II
amounts to around 75 million euro for the period 2002-2004.
Under MEDA I, an Investment Planning Programme (21 million
euro, plus 4 million euro Protocol funds) provides management
support and technical assistance to state institutions responsible
for infrastructure and utilities, including energy, water,
transport, waste, environment, industry, and planning. It
was signed in 28/06/1999. [1,9,11]
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