The community delegation will arrive in Beirut in March in response to a government invitation to follow the course of a process that will culminate on May 15th, the day of the elections.

The regional mission will be led by Hungarian MEP Gyorgy Hoelveni, and a first group will be joined by another 30 observers in April.

The announcement was accompanied by a statement from the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, who pointed out that the sending of the delegates highlights Europe’s support for Lebanese democracy.

With some six million residents, Lebanon is facing the worst economic and financial crisis in decades with 80 percent of the population below the poverty line, and a progressive devaluation of the local currency, according to data from the United Nations Organization.

pgh/llp/mem/ehl