Beirut: Finance Minister Yassine Jaber held a joint press conference with French Ambassador Herv© Magro and representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD) and Expertise France to mark a new phase in the 'Empowering Budget Preparation for Sound Public Financial Management' project. The event spotlighted key achievements and outlined future milestones aimed at strengthening Lebanon's budgetary process, restoring accountability, and rebuilding public trust in state institutions.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Minister Jaber, speaking at the Ministry of Finance, began by thanking France for its unwavering support-not only through financial assistance but through political and moral partnership during one of Lebanon's darkest institutional chapters. He praised France's role in Lebanon and within the European Union as a driver of stability and reform. Jaber emphasized the significance of the project, stating that it is a testimony to resilience and credibility, aiming to rebuild Lebanon's financial system from within.
Jaber recalled the initiative's beginnings when Lebanon's financial system was stalled by a backlog of over 3.6 million paper tax receipts. He highlighted the digital processing of these receipts to restore financial visibility and the reassertion of state authority over tax collection through new registration and automation mechanisms. He noted a significant legal achievement with the adoption of a unified decree for budget preparation, replacing conflicting regulations. This development, supported by AFD and Expertise France, led to the issuance of Lebanon's first official budget manual, enhancing institutional transparency.
The minister outlined reforms extending beyond structural changes to include process improvements. Arbitrary spending practices were ended, and budget ceilings were introduced based on actual resources, making budget figures meaningful and policies contextual. Over 85% of financial data has been processed, and off-budget revenues have been reintegrated into the official system.
However, Jaber acknowledged the fragility of success, emphasizing that reform is an ongoing process. He confirmed the next step is to publish internal and public reports on budget execution, marking an unprecedented move in Lebanon's financial history. He expressed optimism for Lebanon's gradual change and urged continued collaboration to build a credible, accountable state. The project's next phase, supported by additional international funding, aims to deepen reforms and institutionalize financial discipline, placing Lebanon's fiscal recovery on firmer, more transparent ground.