European Council President Charles Michel said he would travel to Beirut on Saturday to show EU support for Lebanon and its capital city following the port explosion that killed more than a hundred people.
“Traveling to Beirut tomorrow to convey Europe’s solidarity with the people in Lebanon. Shocked and saddened, we stand with all those affected and will provide help,” Michel tweeted on Friday, adding that he will meet with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and other senior politicians.
On Thursday, Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged EU member states to step up support for Lebanon, which was already struggling with a severe economic crisis.
“With the dramatic humanitarian and reconstruction needs that have now arisen, our solidarity — and that of the whole international community — will be needed more than ever before,” they said in a joint statement, adding: “We have a common interest in acting now to limit the fall-out of this tragedy.”
Also Thursday, on a trip to Beirut, French President Emanuel Macron said he would give Lebanon’s leaders until the end of the month to begin a reset of the political system and fight the rampant corruption that had left the country in an abysmal state even before disaster struck this week.
“We raised funds in the past, but we can only do it if the Lebanese authorities take their responsibilities to allow us to fully help Lebanon,” he said.