**ILO Governing Body, 353rd session**
**10 March – 20 March 2025**
**ILO support for the emergency response to the crisis in Lebanon**
**GB.353/POL/6**
**EU statement**Chair,I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania1, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Georgia, the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
1. We thank the Office for the report on the ILO support for the emergency response to the crisis in Lebanon.
2. The European Union welcomes the ceasefire agreement of 27 November 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, following the mediation efforts undertaken in particular by France and the United States. It urges the parties to implement the ceasefire as agreed, and calls for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
3. The EU recalls in that context the fundamental stabilisation role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. We will continue to support the Lebanese State’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and State-building efforts, including by contributing to the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The EU also warmly welcomes the election of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the appointment of a government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. These significant steps mark a moment of hope and renewal for the Lebanese people.
4. We express our support for the ILO Emergency Response Plan for Lebanon as part of the wider UN response. We stress the importance of the ILO contribution to the crisis response and the post-conflict recovery, such as rapid joint support measures with UNICEF for vulnerable populations and technical support to align short-term recovery measures with long-term development goals within the National Social Protection Strategy. We welcome ILO’s work on sustainable recovery, including the creation of employment under decent working conditions.
5. We call on all partners to support a coordinated recovery response in Lebanon. The EU increased its humanitarian assistance up to EUR 92 million in 2024 and remains strongly involved with an initial allocation of EUR 80 million for 2025. To support Lebanon’s stability and sustainable recovery, we adopted last year EUR 500 million of assistance, which we allocate in a flexible manner. It includes support to security forces, post-conflict recovery, governance reforms, and ensuring access to and delivery of basic services to refugees from Syria and vulnerable Lebanese.
6. We welcome the Office’s proposal to prepare an assessment of the labour market, and to continue providing support for recovery in collaboration with the Government of Lebanon and the social partners. In light of this we support the draft decision.Thank you, Chair.
_\*North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process._