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Beirut, Lebanon -The European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the EU to impose targeted sanctions on Lebanese officials engaged in corruption and obstructing investigations into the Beirut port bombing.
In a vote on Thursday, 571 of the 681 members of the European Parliament supported the resolution, which condemned the Lebanese political parties for causing the country’s devastating economic crisis. About three-quarters of the country’s population fell into poverty and delayed any appearance. Economic recovery on the country. And accountability.
The resolution was led by Christophe Grudler, a member of the European Renaissance Group, and urged the European Union to continue to exert pressure on Lebanon’s political leaders. The Lebanese government was established last week after more than a year of political stalemate. .
“US Know who is responsible for the political and economic crisis: all factions, most ministries, many corrupt members of Congress,” Grudler told Al Jazeera. “We are writing about the black and white that everyone in Lebanon knows. “
The resolution specifically condemned the rejection of the rescue plan approved by the International Monetary Fund proposed by the former government of Lebanon.
It said that Lebanese legislators and political leaders rejected the plan because “the vested interests are safeguarding the interests of the Lebanese banks” and that it suspended the investigation of the central bank during the French investigation by its governor Riad Salame for money laundering. Forensic audit. .
The Beirut port explosion razed most of Beirut’s port to the ground and damaged entire buildings in Beirut [File: Hassan Ammar/AP Photo]The resolution also criticized officials for obstructing the investigation of the Beirut Port bombing, and responded to the appeals of the international human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as the families of some victims, to conduct an international and independent fact-finding investigation.
In late July, the EU adopted The legal framework that sanctions Lebanese officials involved in corruption, delaying economic and accountability reforms, and obstructing the formation of the government.
Lebanon established a formal government last week one year longer than Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Grudler said that all eyes are on the investigation of the Beirut Port explosion and the process of economic recovery.
“We call on all EU member states as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland to work together to include the names of corrupt high-level politicians who have hindered the investigation of the bombing and the recovery plan on the EU sanctions list,” Grudler said. Said. “We must freeze assets at the EU level and prohibit travel by leading politicians. We must listen to the Lebanese people.”
general election
The resolution also called for the timely holding of general elections in May 2022 and the establishment of an international humanitarian task force under the auspices of the United Nations to ensure that aid distribution is effective and free from political sponsorship networks to improve donor confidence.
The resolution runs counter to previous moderate efforts to lobby Lebanese officials.
After the devastating explosion in Beirut Port in August 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron tried to urge Lebanese officials to resume negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and implement economic reforms, but to no avail.
Imad Salamey, associate professor of political affairs in the Middle East at the Lebanese American University, said that Europe’s strong-worded resolution is an attempt to “reaffirm its negotiating influence and power status.”
“I think that, in general, the European Union led by France in particular… is trying to show a strong stand and ability to punish those who ignore its guidance,” Salami told Al Jazeera.
“This also sends a strong message to Lebanese politicians that Europe is still a key player and has not expelled the country to the interests of Iran or Syria.”
The Lebanese government has not yet commented on the resolution.
Shams El Gonemi, political adviser to the European Group for the Renaissance of the European Parliament, told Al Jazeera that the resolution may signal a possible shift in EU policy to Lebanon.
“We went from a statement calling for reforms to a EU sanctions regime for those who obstructed Lebanon’s anti-corruption reforms,” he said.
He said that the resolution can create political space for European countries to take tougher stances and measures against the Lebanese authorities to combat corruption, delay reforms and accountability mechanisms.
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