One of the most important questions before the start of the first Euro-Arab summit on Sunday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh was a list to the participants. EU leaders such as Angela Merkel, Theresa May, and Jean-Claude Juncker did not want to have to the Saudi heir to the throne, Mohammed bin Salman, or the Sudanese head of state Omar al-Bashir shake hands.
it was Only after the Europeans had received assurances that the two would not show up in Sharm al-Sheikh, they were ready for the trip to Egypt. This was mitigated in advance, but only one of the many problems of the two-day summit, which convenes to invest under the Motto “stability”.
With the first summit meeting of EU and Arab League, which brings in almost 30 European and more than 20 Arab countries, Europe wants to reward, among other things, the host of Egypt. Under the head of state Abdel Fattah al-Sisi government in Cairo ensures that in your country no of refugees across the Mediterranean to Europe.
An ideal Partner for the EU Sisi is not, although His Regime owed its Power to a coup d’état, with draconian means against suspected opponents and gave up only a few days before the Meeting with the Europeans, nine people executed. Nevertheless, Merkel and co. the Egyptian President photograph: a Total of 24 members of the EU, with their heads of state and government in Sharm al-Sheikh represented.
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order Not ready, both eyes
Not all Arab rulers, the EU was willing to turn a blind eye When Saudi crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went on strike the Europeans. blind to the The heir to the throne since the murder of the government-critical journalist Jamal Khashoggi last autumn, for many Western politicians, became a persona non grata. Also with the Sudanese President Bashir, who is considered to be of suspected war criminals, do not want the EU leaders to the table.
the EU will use The summit as an opportunity, its importance on the world stage to underline: Council President Donald Tusk said in his opening speech, with a view on the middle East powers-the USA and Russia, Europeans and Arabs of the Region should not be left to the powers of the world.
However, EU and Arab League in many areas are far apart. So the Arab States sit on the Mediterranean to the EU Plan for the establishment of reception camps for refugees on the way to Europe. Concrete decisions are not expected at the summit.
human rights play a supporting role
Both camps also have significant internal differences with the Sharm al-Sheikh. The EU countries could not agree in the case of the preparation of the meeting on a joint text for the final Declaration. In the case of the Arabs, the conflict between Saudi still smoulders Arabia and its allies on the one hand, and the Emirate of Qatar, on the other hand, Qatar’s leadership is absent from the Meeting, and only by its Ambassador to the Arab League represented.
The EU has in Sharm al-Sheikh in addition to her Brexit-is a Problem in the Luggage. The Prime Minister May want to talk on the sidelines of the summit with EU politicians about their latest attempt, with Brussels a new divorce agreement to negotiate. In media, the speech was a report already of a “Deal in the desert”, which could be negotiated in Egypt. Mays government was forced to as a result, the finding that London did not want to repurpose the Meeting with the Arabs to further Brexit-crisis conference.
in view of the many difficulties may want to focus Europeans and Arabs on common interests in trade, climate change and security policy. With numerous autocratic regimes need to be talked about, the EU.
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issues such as human rights and democratisation should therefore play at the summit only a minor role. Europe and the Arab world are agreed that stability is more important than the uncertainty of democracy, a European Diplomat in the Online edition of the state-owned Egyptian newspaper “Al-Ahram” quote. EU Commission chief Juncker stressed the importance of human rights should not be underestimated – but one should not overstate the theme.
