During technical consultations held in Beirut on August 12 and 13, Syria and Lebanon discussed mechanisms for enhancing cooperation and coordination in border management, with the participation of the competent authorities in the two countries, facilitated by the International Organization for Migration and support from the European Union.
Representatives of the General Authority of Ports and Customs, the Ministry of Defense – Border Guard, and the Ministry of Interior – Airport and Ports Administration participated in the Syrian delegation, while the Lebanese delegation included representatives of Public Security, the Army and Customs, along with a number of ministries and concerned authorities.
The consultations focused on developing coordination mechanisms and exchanging information between the two sides, facilitating the movement of passengers and goods through legitimate ports, in addition to discussing common operational challenges and ways to improve the management of border crossings.
The two sides also discussed procedures for border control and combating smuggling, mechanisms for verifying documents and detecting cases of forgery, as well as strengthening direct communication channels and liaison offices between the competent authorities and the corresponding border crossings.
The discussions touched on ways to facilitate trade movement and address choke points that hinder transit movement, in addition to examining the possibility of developing electronic connectivity between the customs departments in the two countries.
The meetings concluded with a set of recommendations related to enhancing institutional coordination and information exchange, simplifying transit procedures, as well as identifying technical cooperation priorities during the next stage.
These consultations come within the framework of ongoing technical cooperation between Lebanon and Syria, to be completed by preparing a road map and organizing specialized workshops in border management until the end of 2026.
