Article 53. Information Society and Telecommunications
1. The Parties recognise that information and communication technologies constitute a key element of modern society, vital to economic and social development, and a cornerstone of the emerging information society.
2. Cooperation in this field shall aim at:
(a) a dialogue on the various aspects of the information society, including telecommunications policies;
(b) exchanges of information and technical assistance on regulatory matters, standardisation, conformity tests and certification as regards information technology and telecommunications technology;
(c) dissemination of new information and telecommunications technology, and of updated facilities for advanced communications, information services and technology;
(d) promotion and implementation of joint projects for research, technical development and industrial applications in information technologies, communications, telematics and the information society;
(e) the participation of Lebanese organisations in pilot projects and European programmes within the established frameworks;
(f) interconnection and interoperability between Community telematic networks and services and those of Lebanon;
(g) a dialogue on regulatory cooperation on international services, including aspects relating to protection of data and privacy.
Article 54. Energy
Cooperation shall focus on:
(a) promotion of renewable energy;
(b) promotion of energy-saving and energy efficiency;
(c) applied research relating to networks of databases linking the two Parties' economic and social operators;
(d) supporting modernisation and development of energy networks and the interconnection of such networks with Community networks.
Article 55. Tourism
Cooperation shall aim to:
(a) promote investment in tourism;
(b) improve the knowledge of the tourist industry and ensure greater consistency of policies affecting tourism;
(c) promote a good seasonal spread of tourism;
(d) highlight the importance of the cultural heritage for tourism;
(e) ensure that the interaction between tourism and the environment is suitably maintained;
(f) make tourism more competitive through support for increased standards and professionalism;
(g) enhance information flows;
(h) intensify training activities in hotel management and administration, and training in other hotel trades;
(i) organise exchanges of experience so as to ensure balanced, sustainable development of tourism, notably through exchanges of information, exhibitions, conventions and publications on tourism.
Article 56. Customs Cooperation
1. The Parties shall develop customs cooperation to ensure that the provisions on trade are observed. For this purpose they shall establish a dialogue on customs matters.
2. Cooperation will focus in particular on:
(a) the simplification of controls and procedures concerning the customs clearance of goods;
(b) the possibility of interconnection between the transit systems of the Community and of Lebanon;
(c) the exchange of information among experts and vocational training;
(d) technical assistance where appropriate.
3. Without prejudice to other forms of cooperation provided for in this Agreement, particularly in the fields of combating drug abuse and money laundering, the Contracting Parties' administrative authorities shall provide mutual assistance in accordance with the terms of Protocol 5.
Article 57. Cooperation In Statistics
The aim of cooperation shall be to harmonise methodology used by the Parties and to put to use data, including data-banks, on all areas covered by this Agreement for which statistics can be collected.
Article 58. Consumer Protection
Cooperation in this field should be geared to making consumer protection schemes in the Community and Lebanon compatible and should, as far as possible, involve:
(a) increasing the compatibility of consumer legislation in order to avoid barriers to trade;
(b) establishment and development of systems of mutual information on dangerous food and industrial products and interconnecting them (rapid alert systems);
(c) exchanges of information and experts;
(d) organising training schemes and supplying technical assistance.
Article 59. Cooperation In Reinforcement of Institutions and Rule of Law
The Parties reiterate the importance of the rule of law and the proper functioning of institutions at all levels in the areas of administration in general, and law enforcement and the machinery of justice in particular. An independent and effective judiciary and well-trained legal profession are of particular importance in this context.
Article 60. Money Laundering
1. The Parties agree on the necessity of making every effort to cooperate to prevent the use of their financial systems for laundering of proceeds from criminal activities in general and drug offences in particular.
2. Cooperation in this area may include administrative and technical assistance aimed at establishing effective standards and their efficient implementation in the area of combating money laundering in line with international standards.
Article 61. Prevention and Fight Against Organised Crime
1. The Parties agree to cooperate in order to prevent and fight organised crime, in particular in the following fields: human trafficking; exploitation for sexual purposes; corruption; the counterfeit of financial instruments; the illicit traffic of prohibited, counterfeited or pirated products and of illegal transactions concerning in particular industrial refuse or radioactive material; the trafficking of firearms and explosives; computer criminality; stolen cars.
2. Parties shall cooperate closely in order to establish appropriate mechanisms and standards.
3. Technical and administrative cooperation in this field will include training and the strengthening of the effectiveness of the authorities and structures responsible for fighting and for preventing criminality and the formulation of measures for crime prevention.
Article 62. Cooperation on Illicit Drugs
1. Within their respective powers and competencies, the Parties shall cooperate to ensure a balanced and integrated approach towards drugs. Drug policies and actions shall be aimed at reducing the supply, trafficking and demand of illicit drugs as well as at a more effective control of precursors.
2. The Parties shall agree on the necessary methods of cooperation to attain these objectives. Actions shall be based on commonly agreed principles along the lines of the five basic principles endorsed at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs of 1998 (UNGASS).
3. Cooperation between the Parties may comprise technical and administrative assistance in particular in the following areas: drafting of national legislation and policies; establishment of institutions and information centres; training of personnel; drug related research; and the prevention of diversion of precursors used for the illicit manufacture of drugs. The Parties may agree to include other areas.
Title VI. COOPERATION IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL MATTERS
Chapter 1. Dialogue and Cooperation In the Social Field
Article 63.
The two Parties shall decide together on the methods needed to achieve cooperation in the fields covered by this Title.
Article 64.
1. The Parties shall conduct regular dialogue on any social matter which is of interest to them.
2. This dialogue shall be used to find ways to achieve progress in the field of movement of workers and equal treatment and social integration of Lebanese and Community nationals legally residing in the territories of their host countries.
3. The dialogue shall notably cover all issues related to:
(a) the living and working conditions of the migrant communities;
(b) migration;
(c) illegal immigration;
(d) schemes and programmes to encourage equal treatment between Lebanese and Community nationals, mutual knowledge of cultures and civilisations, the furthering of tolerance and the removal of discrimination.
Article 65.
1. With a view to consolidating cooperation between the Parties in the social field, projects and programmes shall be carried out in any area of interest to them, including:
(a) improving living conditions, particularly in disadvantaged areas and areas whose population has been displaced;
(b) promoting the role of women in the economic and social development process, particularly through education and the media;
(c) bolstering and developing Lebanon's family planning and mother and child protection programmes;
(d) improving the social security and health insurance systems,
(e) improving the health care system, notably through cooperation in the field of public health and prevention, health security and medical training and management;
(f) implementing and financing exchange and leisure programmes for mixed groups of Lebanese and European young people, youth workers, youth NGO representatives, and other experts in the youth field residing in the Member States, with a view to promoting mutual knowledge of their respective cultures and fostering tolerance.
2. The Parties shall engage in a dialogue on all aspects of mutual interest, and particularly on social problems such as unemployment, rehabilitation of the less able-bodied, equal treatment for men and women, labour relations, vocational training, safety and health at work.
Article 66.
Cooperation schemes may be carried out in coordination with Member States and relevant international organisations.
Chapter 2. Cooperation In Cultural Matters, Audiovisual Media and Information
Chapter 67.
1. The Parties agree to promote cultural cooperation in fields of mutual interest and in a spirit of respect for each other's cultures. They shall establish a sustainable cultural dialogue. This cooperation shall promote in particular:
(a) conservation and restoration of historic and cultural heritage (monuments, sites, artefacts, rare books and manuscripts, etc.);
(b) exchange of art exhibitions and artists;
(c) training of persons working in the cultural field.
2. Cooperation in the field of audiovisual media shall seek to encourage cooperation in such areas as co-production and training. The Parties shall seek ways to encourage Lebanese participation in Community initiatives in this sector.
3. The Parties agree that existing cultural programmes of the Community and of one or more of the Member States and further activities of interest to both sides, can be extended to Lebanon.
4. The Parties shall in addition, work to promote cultural cooperation of a commercial nature, particularly through joint projects (production, investment and marketing), training and exchange of information.
5. The Parties shall, in identifying cooperation projects, programmes and joint activities, give special attention to young people, self-expression, heritage conservation issues, the dissemination of culture, and communication skills using written and audiovisual media.
6. Cooperation shall be implemented in the way set out in Article 42.
Chapter 3. Cooperation for the Prevention and Control of Illegal Immigration
Article 68.
1. The Parties agree to cooperate in order to prevent and control illegal immigration. To this end:
(a) each of the Member States agrees to readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of Lebanon, upon request by the latter and without further formalities once such persons have been positively identified as such,
(b) Lebanon agrees to readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of a Member State, upon request by the latter and without further formalities once such persons have been positively identified as such.
The Member States and Lebanon will also provide their nationals with appropriate identity documents for such purposes.
2. In respect of the Member States of the European Union, the obligation in this Article applies only in respect of those persons who are to be considered their nationals for Community purposes in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.
3. In respect of Lebanon, the obligation in this Article applies only in respect to those persons who are considered Lebanese in accordance to the Lebanese legal system and all the relevant laws concerning citizenship.
Article 69.
1. After the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties, at the request of any of them, shall negotiate and conclude bilateral agreements with each other, regulating specific obligations for the readmission of their nationals. These agreements shall also cover, if deemed necessary by any of the Parties, arrangements for the readmission of third country nationals. Such agreements will lay down details about categories of persons covered by these arrangements as well as the modalities of their readmission.
2. Adequate financial and technical assistance to implement these agreements may be provided to Lebanon.
Article 70.
The Association Council shall examine what other joint efforts can be made to prevent and control illegal immigration.
Title VII. FINANCIAL COOPERATION
Article 71.
1. With a view to full attainment of this Agreement's objectives, financial cooperation shall be considered for Lebanon in line with the appropriate financial procedures and resources.
2. These procedures shall be adopted by mutual agreement between the Parties by means of the most suitable instruments once this Agreement enters into force.
3. In addition to the areas covered by Titles V and VI of this Agreement, cooperation may entail, inter alia:
(a) facilitating reforms aimed at modernising the economy,
(b) rebuilding and updating economic infrastructure,
(c) promoting private investment and job creation activities,
(d) taking into account the effects of the progressive introduction of a free trade area on the Lebanese economy, in particular where the updating and restructuring of the affected economic sectors, especially industry, is concerned,
(e) flanking measures for policies implemented in the social sectors, particularly for reform of social security.
Article 72.
Within the framework of Community instruments intended to buttress structural adjustment programmes in the Mediterranean countries – and in close coordination with the Lebanese authorities and other contributors, in particular the international financial institutions – the Community will examine suitable ways of supporting structural policies carried out by Lebanon to restore financial equilibrium in all its key aspects and create an economic environment conducive to boosting growth, while at the same time enhancing social welfare.
Article 73.
In order to ensure a coordinated approach to dealing with the exceptional macroeconomic and financial problems which could stem from the progressive implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall closely monitor the development of trade and financial relations between the Community and Lebanon as part of the regular economic dialogue established under Title V.
Title VIII. INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 74.
1. An Association Council is hereby established which shall meet at ministerial level when circumstances require, on the initiative of its Chairman and in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules of procedure.
2. The Association Council shall examine any major issues arising within the framework of this Agreement and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.
Article 75.
1. The Association Council shall consist of the members of the Council of the European Union and members of the Commission of the European Communities, on the one hand, and of members of the Government of Lebanon, on the other.
2. Members of the Association Council may arrange to be represented, in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure.
3. The Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure.
4. The Association Council shall be chaired in turn by a member of the Council of the European Union and a member of the Government of Lebanon in accordance with the provisions laid down in its rules of procedure.
Article 76.
1. The Association Council shall, for the purpose of attaining the objectives of this Agreement, have the power to take decisions in the cases provided for therein.
2. The decisions taken shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. The Association Council may also make appropriate recommendations.
3. The Association Council shall draw up its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the two Parties.
Article 77.
1. Subject to the powers of the Association Council, an Association Committee is hereby established which shall be responsible for the implementation of this Agreement.
2. The Association Council may delegate to the Association Committee, in full or in part, any of its powers.
Article 78.
1. The Association Committee, which shall meet at the level of officials, shall consist of representatives of members of the European Union and of the Commission of the European Communities, on the one hand, and of representatives of the Government of Lebanon, on the other.
2. The Association Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.
3. The Association Committee shall normally meet alternately in the Community and in Lebanon.
Article 79.
1. The Association Committee shall have the power to take decisions for the management of this Agreement as well as in the areas in which the Association Council has delegated its powers to it.
2. The Association Committee shall draw up its decisions by agreement between the Parties. These decisions shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken.
Article 80.
The Association Council may decide to set up any working group or body necessary for the implementation of this Agreement. It shall define the terms of reference of any such working group or body that shall be subordinated to it.
Article 81.
The Association Council shall take all appropriate measures to facilitate cooperation and contacts between the European Parliament and the Lebanese Parliament, and between the Economic and Social Committee of the Community and its counterpart in Lebanon.
Article 82.
1. Each of the Parties may refer to the Association Council any dispute relating to the application or interpretation of this Agreement.
2. The Association Council may settle the dispute by means of a decision.
3. Each Party shall be bound to take the measures involved in carrying out the decision referred to in paragraph 2.
4. In the event of it not being possible to settle the dispute in accordance with paragraph 2, either Party may notify the other of the appointment of an arbitrator; the other Party must then appoint a second arbitrator within two months. For the application of this procedure, the Community and the Member States shall be deemed to be one Party to the dispute.
The Association Council shall appoint a third arbitrator.