Justice Minister Adel Nassar met on Monday with a delegation from the International Confederation of Lebanese Businessmen and Businesswomen (MIDEL) to discuss how strengthening the judiciary could help restore economic confidence and attract investors back to the crisis-stricken country.

Speaking after the meeting, MIDEL President Professor Fouad Zmokhol said the group emphasized that an independent judiciary is “indispensable” for reviving growth.

“Without judicial independence, there can be no restoration of trust, no return of investors, and no revival of economic activity,” he told reporters, thanking Nassar for placing the issue at the top of his agenda.

The delegation praised Nassar’s cooperation with French judicial authorities, including support from Paris to develop a comprehensive study on restructuring Lebanon’s court system. The French initiative follows a series of high-level meetings Nassar held in Paris aimed at upgrading Lebanon’s legal institutions and enhancing bilateral judicial cooperation.

Zmokhol said French involvement is crucial for “restoring trust in the Lebanese judiciary, and by extension, confidence in Lebanon’s economy.”

MIDEL voiced strong support for Nassar’s outreach to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and other European institutions. The plan, they said, is to implement joint training programs, modernize the curriculum at Lebanon’s Judicial Studies Institute, and align legal education with international standards.

Such collaboration, they argued, would strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty and help entrench the rule of law — a key prerequisite for long-term investment.

The delegation also called for the ongoing wave of judicial appointments to be conducted “with full transparency and free from political or sectarian favoritism,” emphasizing merit, experience, and productivity. They welcomed what they described as “constructive coordination” between the Justice Ministry and the Higher Judicial Council, saying streamlined appointments would accelerate broader judicial reforms.

The delegation concluded by urging all ministries to maintain open communication and cooperate closely in the short, medium, and long term. A cohesive approach, they said, would “rebuild the state on solid foundations, reignite development, and re-attract investors.”