The 19th conference of the European Investment Bank EIB MED 2019 in Beirut focused on ways to invest in sustainable development in the Mediterranean.

In his speech, Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz stressed that the partnership between Poland and the European Investment Bank (EBI) can lead to more economic growth and employment, and lower migration risk from the Middle East. He said: “To that end we are ready to cooperate with our partners in the region. Poland supports communities which shoulder the heaviest burden of the Syrian crisis and which host refugees. Aid provided as close as possible to the place of origin of refugees has the greatest value.”

Deputy Minister Przydacz made a reference to Poland’s joining the Economic Resilience Initiative and its support for key social investments in the Middle East and North Africa. He also declared Warsaw’s readiness to continue its engagement in humanitarian aid and development assistance in the region, specifically in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine.

The deputy minister met with Hani Chemaitelly, Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. They discussed bilateral relations and regional security. Deputy Minister Przydacz emphasized that Lebanon is one of Poland’s major partners in the Middle East and in the Arab world. He went on to say that Poland attaches great importance to economic cooperation and will explore possibilities to boost the presence of Polish businesses on the Lebanese market.

On Friday 27 September the undersecretary of state at the Polish MFA took part in an official ceremony to launch a three-year Polish-German project to rebuild Lebanese public schools for children of Syrian refugees and those from the poorest Lebanese families. In Ammatour in South Lebanon, he inaugurated a renovated primary school. He said that Lebanon is a priority country for Poland’s development cooperation. Along with humanitarian support, Poland’s development assistance for Lebanon aims mainly at improving the quality of education. The deputy minister also welcomed close cooperation of Polish and Lebanese governments in the framework of the project.

Deputy Minister Przydacz got acquainted with the progress of a project to ensure access to basic services for Syrian refugees and local population in Beirut’s Maraach/Bourj Hammoud district. The project is funded by the Polish government and run by the Polish Centre for International Aid (PCPM) in cooperation with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT).

On 28 and 29 September Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz visited the Akkar and Arsal towns, where Polish Aid finances humanitarian projects implemented by the PCPM. They prepare tent camps for winter conditions and improve access to education and healthcare for families of Syrian refugees. The deputy minister praised the engagement of PCPM staff who have supported people affected by the crisis in Lebanon from the start of the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. He told them: “Without your dedication, Polish assistance would not be so effective.”

MFA Press Office

 

photo MFA