DECISION No 1/2021 OF THE EU-LEBANON ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 15 November 2021

agreeing on the extension of the validity of the EU-Lebanon Partnership Priorities [2021/2214]

THE EU-LEBANON ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part,

Whereas:

(1)

The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part  ( 1 ) (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 17 June 2002 and entered into force on 1 April 2006.

(2)

Under Article 76 of the Agreement, the Association Council has the power to take decisions for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the Agreement.

(3)

Article 86 of the Agreement states that the Parties are to take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under the Agreement and are to see to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained.

(4)

By Decision No 1/2016 of the Association Council  ( 2 ) , the European Union and Lebanon agreed on their Partnership Priorities, including the EU-Lebanon Compact (the ‘Compact’), to guide their partnership for the period 2016-2020, with the aim of supporting and strengthening Lebanon’s resilience and stability while seeking to address the impact of the protracted conflict in Syria.

(5)

In an Exchange of Letters, both sides agreed that the validity of the EU-Lebanon Partnership Priorities, including the Compact, should be extended as guiding documents to consolidate their partnership pending the adoption of new updated joint documents.

(6)

Article 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the Association Council provides for the possibility to adopt decisions by written procedure in the period between meetings, if both Parties so agree,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Association Council, acting by written procedure, decides that the validity of the EU-Lebanon Partnership Priorities, including the Compact, annexed to its Decision No 1/2016, shall be extended until new updated joint documents are adopted by the Association Council.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 15 November 2021.

For the EU-Lebanon Association Council

The President

Abdallah BOU HABIB

( 1 )    OJ L 143, 30.5.2006, p. 2 .

( 2 )   Decision No 1/2016 of the EU-Lebanon Association Council of 11 November 2016 agreeing on EU-Lebanon Partnership Priorities ( OJ L 350, 22.12.2016, p. 114 ).