Today, the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon have signed an agreement to continue their cooperation under the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), marking a significant step toward strengthening scientific collaboration, innovation capacity, and sustainable solutions across the Mediterranean region.
Under this agreement, Lebanon will continue to participate in PRIMA-funded research projects during the 2025–2027 phase, focusing on critical shared challenges such as water management, sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate resilience, providing a national financial contribution of 0.6 million euro.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, said:
“Lebanon has shown that even in challenging circumstances, its scientific community keeps delivering. With this agreement, we are not starting a new chapter, we are reinforcing a partnership that already works and that matters for the Mediterranean.”
The agreement was signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Walid Haidar, and Director-General Marc Lemaitre, reaffirming the joint commitment to deepen scientific and technological cooperation. The ceremony took place in the presence of H.E. Tamara El-Zein, Minister of Environment of Lebanon and former Secretary General of CNRS-Lebanon, who served as a key negotiator during earlier stages of the PRIMA discussions. Her participation underscores Lebanon’s continued dedication to advancing scientific research and environmental governance.
Lebanon’s participation in PRIMA
Lebanon has long been an active partner in regional scientific networks and has expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation with European research frameworks.
Since joining PRIMA in 2018, Lebanon has participated in 42 out of 269 PRIMA funded projects supporting sustainable agriculture (17), integrated water management (9), food security (12), and WEFE Nexus (4) for a total budget of around 8.5 million. By renewing its participation, Lebanon will continue to benefit from funding opportunities, capacity-building programmes, and access to international research consortia.
The agreement also aligns with broader EU–Lebanon cooperation priorities, including economic recovery, youth engagement, and support for innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship.
Background
PRIMA is the largest research and innovation initiative dedicated to the Mediterranean region, supporting collaborative projects that address water scarcity, agricultural sustainability, and food systems resilience. This partnership aims to support research institutions, universities, startups, and innovators by fostering cross-border collaboration and promoting knowledge exchange on both sides of the Mediterranean
More information
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
