Hungary to block EU efforts to pressure Lebanese politicians?
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The European Union is drawing up sanctions on politicians in Lebanon seen as blocking the formation of a government, readying the bloc’s first penalties on its Middle Eastern ally in frustration at the ruling elite’s mismanagement, diplomats said.
Led by former colonial power France, the bloc is seeking to ramp up pressure on Lebanon’s squabbling politicians, after 10 months of crisis that has left Lebanon facing financial collapse, hyperinflation, electricity blackouts, and fuel and food shortages.
No names have been discussed and
Hungary has publicly denounced EU efforts to pressure Lebanese politicians,
but six diplomats and officials told Reuters that technical work has now begun on preparing sanctions – so-called designation criteria – after EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to take action. As many senior Lebanese politicians have homes, bank accounts and investments in the EU, and send their children to universities there, a withdrawal of that access could be a lever to focus minds.
Paris says it has already taken measures to restrict entry for some Lebanese officials, for blocking efforts to tackle the unprecedented crisis, which is rooted in decades of state corruption and debt.
“The level of impatience with the ruling class is growing.
They don’t seem to have their peoples’ interest at heart. Expect to see a decision in the next three to four weeks,” said a senior EU diplomat.
The EU first needs to set up a sanctions regime that could then see individuals hit by travel bans and asset freezes.
There are divisions among the 27 EU states over the wisdom of EU sanctions, but the bloc’s two main powers, France and Germany are in favour, which is likely to prove pivotal. A larger group of nations has yet to specify their approach.
However, officials say it is usual at the technical, preparatory stage that countries remain circumspect and that once a political agreement among EU governments is in place, they will rally around France.
The European Union and its various second-rate institutions should stop ‘meddling’ in the affairs of other nations.
Recent events in Europe – from financial crises to an on-going invasion by illegal MUSLIM migrants and (more recently) a major pandemic – have proven how TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE the E.U. is at ‘looking after’ concerns of most Europeans (forget about ‘interest groups’ such as LGBTQPLWYZADNBs and NGOTFZVGs, which really are nothing more than irritating little fleas that should be completely squashed like insignificant creatures).
If France – the chief culprit behind ‘Treaty of Trianon’ which dismembered Hungary over 100 years ago –
wants to get involved in Lebanese politics, then it should do so WITHOUT entangling other European countries.
After all, France was the nation which – after WW1 – ‘sucked’ everything out of Lebanon and Syria so it is appropriate that this conglomeration of snail-devouring frogs now ‘puts something back’ (at its OWN expense).
The European Union was designed to look after certain countries in Europe – not supplant the U.S.A. as an interfering ‘Big Brother ‘ – and it should return to that core purpose.
It is time to respect the sovereignty of other countries. It is unconscionable for Brussel to interfere in Lebanon. The people of Lebanon should be the ones that decide on their government.
The EU and US should stay out of foreign countries internal affairs.
Alfred seems to have forgotten to take his Immodium again.
To Háziorvos, yes it would appear so, but would it make any difference. Imagine the dosage required.
Another Earth-shattering comment from “ANONYMOUS” – the King of mental retards !
“Háziorvos” must be a left-wing medical practitioner who cannot even scrape a living in Lesotho, whilst his mate “Anonymous” is a pre-dementia failed ‘Pigeon-English’ teacher.
What utterly PATHETIC specimens of rejected excuses for human beings who should be fed to a ravenous herd of wild pigs.
Needless to say that I have got nothing to do whatsoever with those two orbanist trolls who call themselves Mario and NotMario ( perhaps the very same hater using different names )
.
Needless to say I believe what the SECOND ‘Mario’ has written.
After all, he is a brown-tongued, migrant-loving, Brussels-worshipping, left-wing troll like myself.
Long may LGBQTWXYZs and other sexual deviants – together with illegal MUSLIM migrants – infest every country in Europe EXCEPT Hungary !
NOTMARIO and NotPolitical are utterly PATHETIC specimens of rejected excuses for human beings who should be fed to a ravenous herd of wild pigs.