A European parliamentary delegation from the "Renew Europe" group discussed the presidential file and issues concerning Syrian refugees and the fight against corruption in Lebanon with the Kataeb parliamentary bloc, which included the party's president, Samy Gemayel, along with Sليم الصايغ, إلياس حنكش, and other deputies such as نعمت أفرام, وضاح الصادق, مارك ضو, and former minister زياد بارود.
The discussions focused on the presidential elections and how to make breakthroughs in the political process, emphasizing that the next president should be free and independent from any faction seeking to manipulate them for sectarian interests. It was deemed essential to revert to the fundamentals of democratic practices without imposing equations of "either this candidate or obstruction." The conversation also highlighted the need to move away from the formula that links the president and the prime minister.
Regarding the issue of refugees, the delegation sought opinions on how to address this matter. Samy Gemayel provided a detailed explanation of the party's vision for resolving the Syrian crisis in Lebanon, urging the European Union to adopt a different approach to providing assistance and to recognize that most Syrians in Lebanon are economic refugees following the cessation of fighting in Syria. He called for helping them return safely to their homeland and supporting them in rebuilding their villages and towns. He emphasized that Lebanon "cannot continue to bear the burdens of this presence alone amid its current crisis."
Christophe Grudler, the EU MEP responsible for the Lebanese file, stressed the importance of meeting with Kataeb and its allies to hear their views concerning the current situation in Lebanon, to understand the perspectives of various forces, and to aid in overcoming the crisis to ensure justice and make anti-corruption measures more effective, enabling the Lebanese people to achieve prosperity and revive the economy, which requires the involvement of political parties.
He remarked, "We reaffirm our friendship and desire to assist Lebanon in moving forward. It has enough capable men and women to emerge from the crisis." The delegation reaffirmed the resolutions and recommendations made by its parliamentary bloc in the European Parliament, especially those related to fighting corruption and pursuing accountable Lebanese officials while freezing their assets. They insisted on pursuing justice, preventing impunity, and guiding European judiciary to support the independence of the Lebanese judiciary in investigations starting from the Beirut explosion case to the embezzlement of depositors' funds.
The European delegation included former Romanian Prime Minister and current MEP Dacian Cioloș, EU MEP and Lebanese file manager Christophe Grudler, French Foreign Affairs Committee member Salima Yanbou, and anti-corruption journalist Georgeios Christos. The meeting was attended by Kataeb Political Bureau member Joel Bou Aboud and the party's Foreign Relations Officer, Dr. Michel Abu Abdullah.
