A horizontal agreement with Lebanon was signed on 7 July 2006. This agreement allows any EU airline to operate flights between Lebanon and any EU Member State where it is established and where a bilateral agreement with Lebanon exists and traffic rights are available. It does not replace the bilateral agreements but adapts them to bring them into line with EU law. This is a major step change from the traditional set-up of aviation based on nationality restrictions and complements the EU's internal aviation market on the external side. The horizontal agreement has been ratified in 2017 and is in force.
On 9 October 2008, the Council of the European Union adopted a Decision authorising the European Commission to open negotiations with Lebanon on a Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement, as a part of the process of creating a wider Common Aviation Area with its eastern and southern neighbours.
A first round of negotiation took place in Beirut in 2009. Since then negotiations have been stalled and are not considered as active.
For further information and figures on EU-Lebanon aviation relations and EU aviation in general, please consult the Atlas of the Sky.