Arabs and Europe. What does each party want? Emad Eddin Hussein

The fact that European and world leaders visit Egypt is a recognition of the fact that our foreign policy has regained much of its role and momentum.
Even in the logic of a formal protocol, these leaders do not arrive in an unstable country and do not have huge problems. Therefore, the first Arab-European summit of this type, which started last night in Sharm el-Sheikh and ends today, is a very important message that Europe and the Arab world are supporting Egypt in its stability. This is an inverted message to all those who tried to isolate and boycott Egypt and punish it because their attempts have completely failed, but the statements of the Turkish President yesterday morning against the Egypt and President Sisi can only be understood from this point.
After this entry, we ask: What do the Europeans want in the Arab world and what do the Arabs want from the European Union ?!
Before answering, we underline that the evolution of the situation in recent years has considerably undermined the existence of an Arab consensus, or even of a European consensus. Each party suffers seriously and can live for a long time its most difficult periods.
The Arab region is the most affected by the spread of terrorism, associated with poverty, tyranny and underdevelopment. Sectarian, sectarian, ethnic and regional conflicts have struck most parts of the Arab world. And the civil wars destroyed everything, from the infrastructure of the idea of ​​the homeland itself, and left hundreds of thousands of dead, as well as the exhaustion of the majority of Arab wealth and savings to finance these conflicts, which only benefited Israel and the other enemies of the Arab nation.
On the other hand, Europe is not at its best, especially after Britain's exit from the European Union, which has seriously questioned the possibility of the continuation of the Union itself. Coupled with the rise of the far right at more than one place, supported by the presence of US President Donald Trump and by an unprecedented economic crisis in Europe, France, which witnessed bloody demonstrations these past weeks, has revealed the depth of the economic and social crisis experienced by the whole of the old continent.
The European Union wants our Arab region, especially the Arab and African countries of the Mediterranean coast, to put an end to illegal immigration north of the sea, by force as wants it. Italy or by the temptations of money as wants Germany, because the EU considers that immigration is an important factor. In the rise of the far right, who wins every day new places in the world. According to some estimates, Europe will offer some Arab countries specific and attractive projects to stop the flow of migrants. Europe also wants the Arabs to help eradicate terrorist terror, which has been able to inflict painful blows on many European countries.
On the other hand, the Arabs want Europe, a real economic partnership, to support them through direct investments, which create real jobs, not just projects and ready-made transactions, military or civilian.
Arabs in Europe also want to end their indirect support for ideas and practices that encourage the continuation of terrorism. More than one Arab country has consistently complained to Britain and other countries that their indulgence towards some extremist leaders encourages violence and terrorism, not the other way around.
The Arabs want the Europeans to help break America unipolar. But the Europeans are not prepared for this, and the Arabs are not prepared to do without America, especially given the region's strong polarization.
Some are betting on an effective role of Europe in solving the Palestinian problem, including the Trump administration and the division of the Arabs and the drowning of their internal problems that have placed the Palestinian cause behind the eyes of the Arab governments . Iran's intervention in more than one Arab capital has brought some Gulf governments close to Israel and neighboring Iran.
It is important that the Arabs agree first on what we want and coordinate our positions before asking the Europeans to give us anything, "said Ahmed Abul-Gheit, president of the League. Arab.
In international relations, countries gain political gains, along with their general power and bargaining power, forcing us to strengthen our societies and our countries. And make sure that there is maximum compatibility and harmony. If this happens, the whole world will respect us, appreciate us and help us.