EU plans $160 aid package to Lebanon

The European Union is planning a $160 million aid package to Lebanon this year, to be used in the fields of environment protection, administrative reform and development projects.

The announcement was made Tuesday by the Beirut representative of the European Commission, Dimitrius Kourkoulas. He spoke at a press conference in which he also outlined the schedule of EC chairman Jacques Santer, who is to in Beirut Thursday.

The visit is designed to find ways in which Europe can take part in reactivating the peace process as well as continue negotiations over the Euro-Mediterranean partnership agreement.

"Santer will express Europe's readiness to work more closely with the Mediterranean economic partners and with the United States to boost the regional talks," Kourkoulas said.

Santer, who's two-day stop in Beirut is the last in a six-nation tour of the region, will hold talks with Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and House Speaker Nabih Berri. He will also inaugurate Friday an international conference of experts to explore fresh energy resources in the Middle East.