BEIRUT, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Saad Hariri called upon Europeans on Wednesday to increase their investments in Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.

"Lebanon is in great need for help. Europeans are invited to invest in water, electricity, technology, infrastructure, education and health which would support the operations of Lebanese institutions," Hariri was quoted as saying during his meeting with ambassadors of the European Union in the region.

Hariri said that the European Union has offered a lot to support Lebanon after a flow of Syrian refugees into the country following the civil war in Syria.

"If it wasn't for the EU's help, Lebanon wouldn't have been able to take all the burden that was imposed by the influx of Syrian refugees," Hariri said, adding Lebanon still needs a lot more support.

Hariri also emphasized the return of refugees to their homeland, hoping that the return would not add to their suffering.

More than one million Syrian refugees are registered with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.