This comes as Syrian refugees face hostility in Lebanon and irregular migration to Cyprus and Italy surges.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has cut healthcare coverage for registered Syrian refugees by half.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides visited Beirut, hoping to finalize a cooperation deal with Frontex, the EU's border agency.

The aid distribution will begin this year and last until 2027.

The EU is providing aid to the most vulnerable people in Lebanon, including refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities.

This assistance is linked to Lebanon's need to implement reforms, control borders, and stop illegal crossings with Syria.

The aid comes after continued hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

EU officials visited Beirut following a special meeting where the council confirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable people, strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces, and combating human trafficking and smuggling.

The council also reiterated the need for safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees as defined by UNHCR.

The European Union (EU) visited Lebanon for several hours and met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

After a tripartite meeting and a larger discussion with ministers and security officials, Mikati expressed gratitude for the EU's willingness to reconsider some of their policies regarding assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Mikati emphasized that Lebanon, which already hosts around one-third of its population as refugees, cannot continue to bear this burden and is facing additional difficulties and challenges that worsen its economic crisis.

He also warned of the escalating tension between Syrian refugees and the Lebanese host community due to increasing crimes that threaten national security.

In the given text, former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed the importance of Lebanon's security for European countries and vice versa.

He emphasized that cooperation on security issues is crucial for stability.

Mikati also refused to let Lebanon become an alternative homeland for Syrian refugees and called for political excellence as the solution.

He urged the EU and international actors to recognize that most Syrian areas are now safe, which would facilitate the repatriation of refugees and support them in their home country.

Mikati suggested that those who entered Lebanon in 2016, who fled for economic reasons and not due to war, should return first.

He warned against turning Lebanon into a transit country to Europe and cited the problems at the Cypriot border as a potential consequence if the issue was not addressed radically.

Von der Leyen, the first European Commission president to visit Lebanon, expressed her support for Lebanon's socio-economic stability and pledged EU contributions to strengthening basic services and investments in education, social protection, and health.

She also promised to assist Lebanon in implementing economic, financial, and banking reforms to improve the country's economic situation and regain international trust for private sector investment.

Additionally, she announced that the EU's support program for Lebanon's military and security forces would focus on providing equipment, training, and infrastructure for border management.

The European Commission's President, Ursula von der Leyen, met with Lebanese officials to discuss migration and the situation in Syria.

She urged Lebanon to collaborate with Frontex for information exchange and situational awareness to manage migration.

The EU is committed to maintaining legal pathways for refugees to Europe and resettling them.

Cooperation is needed to prevent illegal migration and combat smuggling.

The EU will explore a more structured approach to voluntary returns to Syria with UNHCR.

Von der Leyen expressed concern about the volatile situation in southern Lebanon and the importance of both Lebanon and Israel's security.

The text calls for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon as part of a diplomatic settlement.

The Lebanese armed forces are crucial in this process, and the EU is prepared to help strengthen their capabilities.

European assistance includes border management, monitoring, and countering smuggling and human trafficking.

The issues facing Lebanon have repercussions for Cyprus and the EU, and there is a need to work with partners and the UNHCR to address the issue of voluntary returns and reconsider the situation in some areas of Syria.

The text discusses a meeting between Lebanon's Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, and a European official.

Berri urged Lebanon to carry out IMF-demanded reforms and address accountability issues, with Cyprus offering support.

Berri emphasized Lebanon's commitment to avoiding war and adhering to UN Resolution 1701, despite Israeli aggression and violation of rules of engagement.

The discussion on implementing UN Resolution 1701 would continue after international efforts to stop the aggression on Gaza.

Berri, a Lebanese political figure, called on "concerned parties" to collaborate with the Syrian government, which currently controls most of its territories, to tackle the refugee issue.