The European Union is pushing hard to gain the legal clearances necessary to slap sanctions on Lebanon’s ruling elite. Lebanon is in a state of crisis following the explosion at a Beirut port last August that killed more 200 people. As Reuters reported, the country is on the verge of financial ruin and daily life is a nightmare with rampant blackouts and shortages of food and fuel.

The E.U.’s leaders intend the sanctions, which look set to go into effect by the end of this month, to put pressure on Lebanese politicians to get their act together and lift the nation out of crisis. Reuters cites an unattributed diplomatic note listing corruption, human r ...