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EU Delegation: Lebanon Has Made ‘Only Limited Progress’ on Reforms

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati heads a cabinet meeting, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati heads a cabinet meeting, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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EU Delegation: Lebanon Has Made ‘Only Limited Progress’ on Reforms

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati heads a cabinet meeting, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati heads a cabinet meeting, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said Friday that the country has made “only limited progress” since April 2022 when it agreed on a program of actions and reforms with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“Its implementation would have unlocked over $3 billion in assistance, additional support from donors, put Lebanon back on the path of economic recovery and restored its international credibility,” the EU delegation said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, since then, only limited progress has been made,” it said.

According to the statement, the situation in Lebanon “could and should serve as a driver for change.”

It said it was “critical” to elect a president and form a fully functioning government. “But a delay should not hinder the implementation of agreed key reforms, in order to restore the trust of international actors and Lebanese citizens in the financial system.”

“The adoption of the 2024 budget within constitutional deadlines, the reforming of the bank secrecy law and the stabilization of the exchange rate, have shown that where there is a will, there is a way,” said the statement.

The delegation stressed that structural reforms are necessary to avoid the country being trapped in a perpetual cycle of crises.

“Decisive leadership is needed. The answers to Lebanon’s economic crisis can only come from within Lebanon,” it said.

“The time to act is - always – now,” the statement added.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.