European leaders, senior officials arrive Egypt to participate in Arab-European summit

CAIRO - 23 February 2019: European and Arab leaders, senior officials and several ambassadors of 28 European countries and 21 Arab states arrived in Egypt Sunday to participate in the Arab-European summit, scheduled to take place in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister of Comoros Mohamed El Amine Souef arrived Egypt to participate in the Arab-European summit.

Also, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebs arrive in Egypt to take part in the meetings of the first Arab-European summit. Essebs will deliver a speech at the first general session of the summit on his country's vision on means of promoting Arab-European cooperation and dialogue, said a statement released by the Tunisian presidency on Saturday.

More than 750 Arab and foreign correspondents will participate along with local journalists in the Arab-European Summit.

The summit will tackle a host of political and economic topics including the Palestinian cause and other issues including illegal immigration and human trafficking will be also mulled.

In February 2019, Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh International Airport is on high alert in preparation for receiving the high guests and heads of Arab and European countries, who are participating in the upcoming Arab-European summit due on February 24 and 25, said the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation in statement on Thursday.

Minister of Civil Aviation directed the airport officials to coordinate with all concerned security and media bodies, the statement added.

The first Arab-European summit will be co-chaired by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

On February 18, Sisi said that “Sharm El-Sheikh conference is a key step towards more cooperation that will be followed by other steps,” adding that the instability of some Arab countries led to the illegal migration to Europe.

According to a statement issued by the EU, leaders from both sides will seek to strengthen Arab-European ties. They will also address a wide range of issues and common challenges, such as multilateralism, trade and investment, migration, security and the situation in the region.

The meeting is expected to start on Sunday, February 24 and end with a press conference on Monday, February 25. It will take place in the International Congress Centre in Sharm El-Sheikh.