Lebanon Has a Chance to Move Forward
Press Release by the Co-Chairs of the Patriots Policy Group on Freedom of Religion and Dialogue with Churches and Religious Communities
Strasbourg 17/06/2025 - “We see now a chance for Lebanon to move forward. The political elite of the country started to take responsibility. We trust that the political stabilisation will be lasting, and will come with economic recovery.” - said MEP György Hölvényi, Co-Chair of the Patriots' Policy Group on Freedom of Religion and Dialogue with Churches and Religious Communities on Tuesday in Strasbourg. The Policy Group welcomed His Excellency Archbishop Youssef Antoine Soueif and Dr Mostafa Aallouch, former Member of the Parliament of Lebanon for a discussion on the challenges ahead of Christians in the country.
As MEP Hölvényi, Chief Observer for the 2022 parliamentary elections in Lebanon emphasized during the conference: during the past years the people of Lebanon paid a high price for the many years of economic and political mistakes of their political elite. “Already fragile public social services, education and healthcare, collapsed. Non-governmental actors, mainly the churches, took up the role to provide support for the people in need. They proved once again that churches are an integrated part of the societies in the Middle East. They are essential for providing education, healthcare and also for fostering stabilization.” - said MEP Hölvényi, adding: “Our hope is that there will be a de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, as the extension of the war can have serious consequences on the security and stability of the whole of the Middle East.”
MEP Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Co-Chair of the Policy Group said following the event: “We were reminded today that Christianity is not only not foreign to the Middle East, but is deeply rooted in the very foundation of the region, having shaped its identity for centuries."
"Strengthening the Christian presence in education and public life in Lebanon is more necessary than ever. Christian communities in the region have long demonstrated a genuine commitment to being active, supportive, and dedicated to the common good. Undermining these communities is not only a loss for them — it is a loss for society as a whole.” - added the MEP.