I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and the candidate countries Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Serbia, as well as Monaco, Andorra and San Marino.

The European Union welcomes the end of the political impasse in Lebanon and reaffirms its steadfast support for the Lebanese people and in particular for the rebuilding of state institutions capable of fulfilling their missions at the service of all citizens.

We further welcome UNESCO Action Plan for Emergency Response and appreciate the organisation’s recent interventions in support of culture, education, and communication. We appreciate that UNESCO’s actions are part of the wider United Nations emergency response and the fact that UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut operates within the broader UN strategic frameworks

The EU remains committed to the protection of the rich cultural heritage of Lebanon, and its education and scientific infrastructure - as can also be seen from the contributors’ list to the Special account.