Leading representatives of the EU states and the Arab League have come together for the first time to a summit. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will take part in the meeting in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. A key issue for the EU is refugee policy. On Monday, the focus will be on the situation in Yemen, Libya and Syria as well as the Middle East conflict.
The summit will bring together representatives from almost 40 countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. Heads of state and government from more than 20 EU countries traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh from Europe. Along with Merkel, who also wanted to exchange bilaterally with al-Sisi, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte are also present. Brussels is also represented by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian from Paris.
Among the 22 members of the Arab League, which is based in Cairo, among others, the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri will be among others along with al-Sisi. Saudi Arabia is represented by King Salman.
Tusk wants to destroy the business model of smugglers
The two-day summit will be led by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and EU Council President Donald Tusk. Tusk said in his welcome speech on migration that „countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries must work together to destroy the ‚business model‘ of smugglers and traffickers.“ The EU countries had decided to meet with the Arab League at the EU summit in October to strengthen cooperation with refugees‘ countries of origin and transit, especially in North Africa.
The EU underlines, however, that the meeting is not just about stopping illegal immigration. Tusk emphasized that it was also about „strengthening our cooperation for the benefit of our peoples“. This must be addressed „together“ and should be „not left to far-away world powers,“ he said with a view to China and Russia.
The Egyptian President and host al-Sisi in his welcome speech underscored the need for cooperation in the fight against terrorism. „We need to fight this danger more than ever together,“ he said.
