Minister of Industry, Mr. Wael Abou Faour discussed with EU Ambassador, Christina Lassen, the relationship between Lebanon and the European countries and deliberated on ways to increase Lebanese exports to Europe by enhancing their productive, competitive and differential capacities. The meeting was attended by the Director General of the MOI, Mr. Dany Gedeon and the ministry’s negotiating team along with the European side.
Minister Abou Faour briefed the EU ambassador on the protectionist measures taken by the Lebanese Government: “These measures were adopted to strengthen the Lebanese industry, stabilize it against the prevailing dumping policies of the Lebanese market, and create an incubating environment that protects it from goods exported to Lebanon, subsidized by the country of origin, thawing the national industry competitiveness to its lowest levels” he said.
Abou Faour expressed his appreciation of the supportive European stance rooted in the historical close relations between Lebanon and various European countries. He also thanked her Excellency for the assistance provided to Lebanon by the EU since the outbreak of war in Syria, directly to Lebanon or indirectly by helping Syrian refugees, but called for more flexibility, facilitation and removal of some technical barriers hindering the entry of certain products into European countries.
During the meeting, Lassen stated: “Europeans are flexible towards Lebanon and are willing to show more flexibility for several reasons. They are already following this course”. “We are engaged in providing assistance to Lebanon, we understand the sufferings, difficulties and challenges facing Lebanon, particularly the repercussions of Syrian crisis and Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” she added.
Abou Faour suggested preparing a list of products made in compliance with the required European specifications, eligible to enter European markets, without any obstacles.
Other issues were touched upon as well, such as the “quota of products allowed into Europe that has not yet been fully used by Lebanon,” and a new procedure to be announced soon aimed to “change the rules of origin, which will modify the calculation of value added, to facilitate the entry of some goods to Europe, including clothing. This achievement is owed to the vigorous follow-up of the Ministry of Industry’s team. “
It was agreed upon the next meeting to be held in July between the joint working group of the Ministry of Industry and the European Commission.