Lebanese PM calls for more EU financial support

European Parliament members Tuesday acknowledged Lebanon's struggle with enormous migration flows and voiced concerns about internal crisis there and growing extremism across the region, in a Foreign Affairs Committee debate with Lebanese Prmier Tammam Salam.
According to an EP statement, Salam said that the policy of dissociation from Syria had failed in certain situations and that Lebanon was struggling with extreme migration flows due to the spillover effects of the Syrian conflict.
Questioned by MEPs on the current situation of his country, Salam admitted there was an internal crisis in Lebanon but he said he had confidence in democracy.
Commenting on the spread of the so-called "Islamic state" and growing extremism in the area, he stressed the "need for a peace settlement, otherwise more extremism will prevail." Salam also said the EU had been successful and helpful with its bilateral programmes, but that "Lebanon will need more humanitarian and financial support." The Lebanese Prime Minister had a separate meeting with the President of the EP, Martin Schulz.
"I would like to present my thanks and my gratitude for our exchange. It was very impressive to listen to what you had said about the situation in the country. I want to honour the enormous contribution of your country, of your citizens, to manage the problems of 1.2 million Syrians in your country coming from your neighbour country," Schulz told journalists after the meeting.
On his part, Salam told journalists that he also discussed with Schulz "this fear effect resulting from the Syrian refugees' crisis in Lebanon, which is the country most effective both in relative and absolute terms.
"I thank President Schulz for the efforts deployed by the EU, both in terms of development and the humanitarian funds," he added.
Salam also met Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, today.