TUSC: Convergence between Arab and European countries requires common challenges

"The rapprochement between Arab and European countries requires that everyone faces common challenges and seizes real opportunities," said Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and Co-Chair of the Arab-European Summit. "Despite the differences between us, there are two ways to coexist: Conflict", emphasizing that the European side chooses to cooperate.

In his speech at the opening session of the Euro-Arab summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Tusk said he was delighted with his presence in Sharm el-Sheikh, where European leaders are meeting for the first time under this form, to express the fact that our cooperation is more important than ever before, "Egypt has made great efforts to organize the activities of the summit," he said, congratulating the Egyptian organization Summit.

The President of the Council of Europe called for the need to take into account the common interest of both parties in order to create conditions conducive to long-term stability in order to guarantee the stability and prosperity that are deserved the peoples of European and Arab countries.

Tusk stressed that this cooperation could be activated in many areas, including education financing, reducing unemployment, encouraging investment and promoting trade.

European Council President Donald Tusk said climate change was a direct threat to all peoples, calling for the need to work and make efforts to solve problems in accordance with the Paris Convention.

He stressed that youth should be the focus of countries' efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda, prevent conflict, maintain peace and build capacity for prosperity. youth empowerment so that they become agents of this change.

With regard to migration, the President of the European Council thanked all those responsible for assisting refugees and tried to combat smugglers, stressing the need for cooperation between countries to put an end to smugglers and traffickers, while calling for an attack on the true causes of migration.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, stressed that the Arab world had close relations with the European Union, but that there were fluctuations and disturbances, some differences of opinion.

He added that the European Renaissance had been inspired by many Egyptian civilizations and other countries, stressing that the European Union was striving to be a partner of the Arab world and a co-operation in all the domains.

For his part, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that terrorism, armed conflict, illegal immigration and slowing economic growth threatened the Arab-European space under different conditions. forms and to different degrees, which are also interrelated problems and problems.

He stressed that the frank and practical discussions that this summit has witnessed will be the quickest way to reach consensus on how to deal with these crises and challenges in a common way and with the division of roles.

Aboul Gheit pointed out that this summit stemmed from a common understanding of the seriousness of the continuing crises and armed conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and foreign hands in which Iranian and Turkish actions are taking place.

He stressed that these conflicts emerge from crises and cross-border seas, stressing that these crises and after these years of economic and political problems, it is clear that this will not be solved by the military solution.

He stressed the need to intensify efforts to find political solutions to these crises in order to end the fighting and maintain the unity of the national state as well as the regional integration, pointing out that terrorist groups had exploited the vacuum to achieve their goals.

"We are all aware that there is no military solution to these conflicts that the region is facing," said Aboul Gheit. "States must assume their responsibility to intensify their efforts to find political solutions to put an end to the fighting and to instil stability in the framework of the preservation of the state and its integration. regional.

Abul-Gheit explained that terrorist groups exploited the climate of conflict and chaos to achieve their goals and welcomed the humanitarian assistance provided by European countries and their political presence in the Yemeni crises and Libyan, whether under the sponsorship of Stockholm or Libya through the Quartet, European Union with the African Union and the United Nations.

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States emphasized that Arabs and Europeans endured the difficult humanitarian, economic and political consequences of escalating these conflicts, and expressed the hope that the region would see a settlement. policy put an end to bloodshed and destruction.

"Our belief in the Arab world that the just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question is the best way to put the region on a path of stability and cooperation and to fight against extremism and violence", said Aboul Gheit.

"The summit expresses a strong consensus that the two-state solution remains the only rational and practical formula for resolving this conflict, which has cost the region and the world much blood and has ruined enormous opportunities for common prosperity, "he said.

Aboul Gheit said that "Israel has existed for 70 years and has developed, gained security and recognition, and remained an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 4 June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. ".

"We must clarify that the current situation in the Palestinian territories can not continue and we will speed up the process of sponsoring a political process that will end the occupation and meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people." ", did he declare.

Abul-Gheit stressed that terrorism is the most dangerous scourge and that everyone should create new frameworks to intensify cooperation and coordination between the countries of the European and Arab groups with regard to the seat of the country. terrorism and the restrictions imposed on their financial and security groups, calling for the need to combat the phenomenon of illegal immigration in a comprehensive framework, to address its causes, in accordance with the Marrakesh Convention on migration and refugees concluded last year.

"Sustainable economic development is our best way to address long-term challenges because it offers opportunities for a decent life and a bright future for young people, especially young Arabs," he said.

Abul-Gheit said that "the future and the opportunities that lie ahead will depend on the establishment of strong institutional frameworks and networks linking our countries and peoples, all of whom aspire to a more humane, just and inclusive future. more prosperous ".