On Thursday April 11, 2019 at the new premises of the EU Delegation in Lebanon and under the auspices of Ambassador Christina Lassen, Head of Delegation; Director Maria-Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation in DG Research and Innovation, European Commission, and Dr. Mouïn Hamzé, Secretary General of the National Council for Scientific Research – Lebanon (CNRS-L) signed the PRIMA Implementing Arrangement which outlines the modalities of collaboration for PRIMA project auditing.
Ambassador Christina Lassen welcomed participants, which included CNRS-L Centre and Programme Directors, stressing that the European Union is promoting better cooperation and stronger partnerships across the region in line with 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to reinforce cooperation in research and Innovation.
Secretary General, Dr. Hamzé, thanked the Head of Delegation f§or her continued support and trust in the CNRS-L and its research team. He highlighted and thanked the active role of Director Russo and her team towards the Signature of the PRIMA International Agreement (February, 2018; signed by H.E. Ambassador Fadi Hajali in Brussels); and the current signature of the Implementing Arrangement. He stressed that within the process, CNRS-L has ensured every requested commitment for Lebanese research universities and centers to fully benefit of a balanced PRIMA Programme. While highlighting some figures of the 2018 call results and the need to ensure a more balanced distribution in upcoming calls of PRIMA; Dr. Hamzé assured the continued support of Lebanon and the CNRS-L within the PRIMA Board of Trustees, the Scientific Advisory Committee and Lebanon’s representation within the 6 Member Steering Committee to ensure that the programme returns are in line with its expectations.
Director Russo in turn thanked the Head of Delegation for her continued support to the PRIMA and the CNRS-L Secretary General for his continued dedication and active contribution to the process of establishing the necessary agreements and framework to ensure that South Mediterranean Countries (Lebanon included) is well positioned to benefit of EU funding within the PRIMA. A process that requires both national and international negotiations, Director Russo expressed her happiness - shared by all in attendance - at reaching this positive conclusion to the process.
