The Council of the European Union approved the establishment of a mission in support of the Lebanese security forces. The statement notes that the mission will work to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, and will also contribute to the development of a maritime security governance system. The mission is intended to contribute to strengthening Lebanon’s sovereignty, state institutions and long-term stability in the country. Its initial mandate will be three years.
The mission will include two components, military and civilian, which will operate within a single political mandate, carrying out complementary tasks. The military component will focus on providing advisory support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in the areas of land border protection and maritime security. In particular, support is envisaged for border monitoring and control, the development of intelligence capabilities, surveillance and reconnaissance, combating smuggling and improving operational coordination.
The civilian component will focus on strengthening the capabilities of the Internal Security Forces. It envisages advisory assistance and specialized retraining, including in the fight against cybercrime and smuggling, as well as the development of sustainable mechanisms for the professional retraining of personnel.
A separate focus of the mission is the improvement of port security management systems, including the Port of Beirut. Moreover, the European Union mission will complement the assistance provided through the European Peace Facility and will coordinate its activities with the institutions of the European Union, the member states, the UN and other international partners supporting Lebanon’s security sector.
