The European Commission on Thursday approved €505 million in financial support for Lebanon for 2026 and 2027, the second tranche of a €1 billion package announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a visit to Beirut in May 2024.

The new funding comes as Lebanon grapples with the consequences of renewed conflict, mass displacement, a fragile economy and the need to advance long-delayed institutional reforms.

The package will support three broad areas: essential services and assistance for vulnerable populations; economic recovery, reforms and security; and civil society and cultural initiatives.

European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica announced the funding in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. She met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday in the presence of Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, reaffirming the European Union’s support for Lebanon and urging the government to continue with reforms needed to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

The €505 million will help maintain access to education, health care, social protection and water, while providing assistance to vulnerable families and people with disabilities, including access to primary health care.

The European Union will also support what it describes as durable solutions for Syrian refugees, including safe, voluntary and dignified returns, while helping Lebanese authorities gradually assume responsibility for maintaining essential public services.

A second component will focus on Lebanon’s reform agenda, including the justice system, oversight and regulatory bodies, Parliament and human rights. The funding will also support the security sector and border management, strengthen the private sector’s ability to withstand economic shocks and assist economic recovery in areas affected by conflict.

The third component will provide support to civil society organizations working on the rights of women, young people, minorities and people with disabilities. It will also fund initiatives aimed at promoting democratic participation, transparency and the fight against corruption, as well as efforts to strengthen social cohesion and protect Lebanon’s cultural heritage.

“For as long as Lebanon needs it, the European Union will continue to stand by the country,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “That is why we are providing an additional €505 million to address the immediate needs of the Lebanese people while supporting the country’s longer-term recovery.”

Kallas also said the EU was preparing a new mission in Lebanon to advise and train the Lebanese armed forces to help them provide security across the country.

“A strong and stable Lebanon is essential to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East,” she said.

Šuica said the latest funding reflected the EU’s continued commitment to Lebanon’s recovery and institutional development.

“The European Union stands firmly with Lebanon and its people,” she said. “This second €505 million tranche supports Lebanon’s recovery and reforms, strengthens its institutions and security sector, and helps protect its most vulnerable people.”

“A strong and sovereign Lebanon, with effective state institutions and full state control over its territory, is essential for lasting stability and prosperity,” she added.

The latest funding is not a new €1 billion package but the second half of the program announced by von der Leyen in May 2024. The first €500 million tranche, covering 2024 and 2025, was adopted in August 2024. The latest €505 million will cover 2026 and 2027, bringing the two tranches to just over €1 billion.

The broader program was designed to support Lebanon’s socioeconomic stability, maintain essential services, advance reforms and economic recovery, and strengthen security and border management.

The new funding comes as Lebanon faces increased humanitarian needs following the escalation of conflict in March. More than 1 million people have been internally displaced, putting additional pressure on public services and aid organizations.

Separately from the €505 million package, the EU has provided €100 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in 2026. That funding is aimed at urgent needs including emergency health care, shelter, basic necessities, protection and education.

The European Commission has also mobilized additional assistance under the broader €1 billion package to support the government-led emergency response, including cash assistance and support for health and education.

Since 2011, the EU says it has provided more than €3.5 billion in assistance to Lebanon, including support for vulnerable Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees.

The €505 million will not be delivered as a single payment to the Lebanese government. The funding will be distributed through various programs and mechanisms in cooperation with Lebanese authorities, U.N. agencies, international organizations and civil society partners.

The European Commission adopted additional funding decisions in July 2026 covering assistance for vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees, economic recovery, reforms, civil society and culture. The announcement in New York formalizes the second phase of the financial commitment made in 2024.

The next stage will involve putting the individual programs into operation during 2026 and 2027 and coordinating them with Lebanon’s reform agenda, reconstruction needs and efforts to revive the economy.