The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdullah Bouhabib, held a series of meetings in the capital of the European Union - Brussels, engaging in discussions with officials in the context of following up Lebanon's efforts to de-escalate tensions and avoid a wide-scale war in the south that could lead to an open regional conflict. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, invited Minister Bouhabib to a working lunch where they discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region, and considered the possibility of the European Union contributing to alleviating the escalation and tension in southern Lebanon.
Following this, Minister Bouhabib met with the EU ambassadors from the 27 countries in the Political and Security Committee, where they discussed the current conditions in Lebanon and the region, and ways to support Lebanon and the Lebanese Army, as well as existing diplomatic initiatives within the framework of a political solution and de-escalation. In preparation for the upcoming meetings of European leaders, the minister discussed potential outcomes and the EU's positions regarding the situation in both the Middle East and Ukraine with the EU's diplomatic advisor, Magdalena Grono. Minister Bouhabib concluded his visits with a meeting with the Director-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, Gert Jan Koopman, ahead of his anticipated visit to Lebanon early next month to discuss development and economic issues.
