EU consular cooperation to help EU citizens wishing to leave Lebanon

Press release 243/2006
16 July, 2006

Efforts by consular authorities of EU member states continue to assist those EU citizens who wish to leave Lebanon. The Presidency has coordinated the efforts by EU member states to assist their citizens to leave Lebanon.  Such coordination in the form of exchange of information and arrangements on the ground in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon and in Cyprus has taken place between EU capitals and missions in Beirut and Nicosia.  The Council Secretariat and the Commission have been fully associated with this work.

The coordinated efforts aim at providing assistance to all those EU citizens who wish to leave Lebanon.  This includes provision of means of transport, particularly ships, departure arrangements in Lebanon and reception arrangements in Cyprus.  Further and possibly enhanced measures will be considered as the situation evolves. It also includes efforts to ensure that all parties will guarantee and facilitate the safe and speedy passage for those who want to leave Lebanon.

Citizens of EU member states wishing to receive detailed instructions are advised to contact their embassies and consulates in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region, and authorities concerned in capitals.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council will discuss the situation in Lebanon on Monday.

More information: Christian Sundgren, Assistant Director of the Department for Communication and Culture, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 551 6571, and Irma Ertman, Director General of the Legal Department, tel. +358 9 1605 5700