EU and League of Arab States leaders agreed to enhance regional cooperation to address common challenges such as climate change and migration
Main results
Leaders of the EU and the League of Arab States (LAS) agreed to strengthen their partnership at the first summit ever held between the two regions. They adopted a joint declaration:
The summit marked the start of a new dialogue between the EU and the LAS. Leaders committed to hold EU-LAS summits regularly, with the next summit set to take place in Brussels in 2022.
"There are differences between us. But we face common challenges and have shared interests. We need to cooperate and not leave it to global powers far from our region."
Tweet by President Donald Tusk, 24 February 2019
President Donald Tusk co-chaired the meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Donald Tusk represented the EU along with President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Towards a stronger Euro-Arab partnership
Leaders agreed to deepen Arab-European ties to enhance the stability, prosperity, and well-being of the two regions. Stronger regional cooperation is key to address common challenges such as migration:
"On border control and the fight against irregular migration: we will scale up our joint efforts to prevent people smuggling, eradicate trafficking in human beings and combat those who exploit vulnerable people."
President Tusk at the press conference after the summit
Both sides agreed to boost cooperation towards security, conflict resolution and socio-economic development throughout the region. Leaders committed to working more closely together to address the root causes of terrorism and to continue joint efforts to combat foreign terrorist fighters.
They also reaffirmed the need to strengthen economic cooperation between the two regions to spur investment and sustainable growth.
Upholding the multilateral order
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to defend multilateralism and the rules-based trading system.
"The global rules-based order is clearly under threat. We have agreed here in Sharm El-Sheikh that both sides will work together to defend it. Multilateral solutions remain the best way to address threats to international peace and security."
President Tusk at the press conference after the summit
Both sides agreed to increase cooperation between the LAS, EU, the UN and the African Union. They also reiterated their commitment to the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, as well as the implementation of the Paris agreement.
In addition, leaders renewed their commitment to the upholding of all aspects of international human rights law.
Regional developments
The summit provided an opportunity for leaders to discuss the latest developments in the region. Both sides stressed that addressing regional crises requires political solutions in accordance with international law.
Leaders reaffirmed their common positions on the Middle East Peace Process and their commitment to reaching a two-state solution. Leaders also had thorough discussions on ways to achieve political solutions in Syria, Libya and Yemen in line with relevant UN resolutions.
Background information
EU relations with the League of Arab States
Since the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2015, the EU and LAS have maintained an advanced relationship, including:
- biennial ministerial meetings
- annual meetings between the EU Political and Security Committee and the LAS Permanent Representatives
The EU and the LAS have also launched in 2015 a strategic dialogue to develop the Euro-Arab operational cooperation on security issues.
The two regions are already major trade and investment partners. Collectively the EU is the first trading partner for the LAS. This is also the case for 11 individual members of the LAS. The EU is also the biggest investor in the LAS countries.
About the League of Arab States
The League of Arab States is the only pan-Arab grouping gathering all Arab countries. It includes 22 member states from Africa and the Middle East: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Syria's membership was suspended in 2011, and it did not participate in the summit.