EU-Lebanon Criminal Judicial Cooperation: What Changes for Companies with International Operations

Key data

Spanish and European companies with commercial, logistics or investment activities in Lebanon have been operating since July 21, 2026 under a new framework of criminal judicial cooperation between the EU and the Lebanese Republic. The agreement, published in the EU Official Journal with reference [2026/1773], formalizes collaboration between Eurojust —the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation— and Lebanese judicial authorities.

This is not a regulation that imposes direct obligations on companies, but it does modify the legal environment in which they operate when their activities intersect with cross-border criminal investigations involving Lebanon.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement creates a formal and legally supported channel for Eurojust and Lebanese judicial authorities to collaborate in three main areas:

• Exchange of information and data: Eurojust will be able to transmit and receive data —including personal data— from the competent Lebanese authorities, with adequate protection guarantees established in the agreement itself.
• Operational assistance: Active coordination in cross-border criminal investigations and proceedings affecting both jurisdictions.
• Legal framework for the transmission of personal data: Specific safeguards are established to ensure that data transfer between the EU and Lebanon complies with European protection standards.

The crimes covered by this agreement are those with an international dimension involving Lebanon, with special focus on:

The agreement does not modify or replace any previous European regulation of a direct business nature. Its nature is that of an instrument of public international law between the EU and a third State.

Economic and operational impact

For most companies, this agreement does not generate direct costs or immediate compliance obligations. However, it has relevant operational consequences in certain contexts:

• Greater exposure in cross-border investigations: If a company or its business partners in Lebanon are under criminal investigation, cooperation between Eurojust and Lebanese authorities will now be more agile and formally supported. This can accelerate proceedings that previously dragged on due to lack of an official channel.
• Transfer of personal data: Companies that manage data of Lebanese employees, customers or suppliers should know that such data may be subject to transmission requests within the framework of criminal investigations, always with the guarantees of the agreement.
• Reduction of legal opacity risk: The agreement reduces the legal gray area in operations with Lebanese counterparts, which is positive for companies operating in sensitive sectors such as logistics, financial services or commodity trading.
• Reinforced legal certainty: For investors or companies with a presence in Lebanon, the framework represents a signal of greater institutionalization of EU-Lebanon relations in matters of rule of law.

Who does it affect?

• Judicial and prosecutorial authorities of EU Member States and Lebanon: they are the main actors in the agreement.
• Companies with commercial operations in Lebanon: importers, exporters, logistics or distribution companies with Lebanese counterparts.
• Financial entities that manage transactions or accounts linked to persons or entities under investigation in Lebanon.
• Law firms and legal advisors that handle criminal cases with an international dimension in which Lebanon is a party.
• Citizens and company executives involved in cross-border criminal proceedings involving Lebanon.
• Private security and compliance companies that operate in the region or advise clients with exposure to the Lebanese market.

Practical example

A Spanish logistics company operates transport routes for goods between Valencia and the port of Beirut. One of its local partners in Lebanon is being investigated by Lebanese authorities for alleged involvement in a human trafficking network that uses cargo containers as cover.

Before this agreement, coordination between the Spanish prosecution —through Eurojust— and Lebanese authorities was informal and dependent on slow diplomatic channels. With the agreement in force, Eurojust can exchange operational information with Lebanese authorities directly, agilely and with legal backing. This means that the Spanish company could be required to provide documentation in a shorter timeframe, and that data of its employees or clients linked to that route could be subject to formal transmission requests under the guarantees of the agreement.

The key for this company is to have an updated compliance protocol that addresses how to respond to information requests within the framework of international criminal investigations.

What should companies do now?

1. Review exposure to the Lebanese market: Identify whether your company has partners, suppliers, customers or employees with links to Lebanon who may be on the radar of cross-border criminal investigations.
2. Update compliance protocols: Ensure that your regulatory compliance manual addresses how to act when faced with information requests from judicial authorities within the framework of international cooperation.
3. Review contracts with Lebanese counterparts: Include clauses that regulate cooperation in the event of judicial requests and the transmission of personal data under international legal frameworks.
4. Inform the DPO or data protection officer: The transfer of personal data to Lebanese authorities within the framework of criminal investigations is now regulated by this agreement. The data officer must be aware of this new framework.
5. Consult with legal advisors specialized in international criminal law if your company operates in risk sectors (logistics, financial services, commodity trading) with active presence in Lebanon.

Official source

View complete regulation in official source (EUR-Lex)

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601773