Safadi heads to Egypt for first Arab-European summit

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday will head Jordan’s delegation to the Arab-European summit hosted by Egypt in Sharm El Sheikh, a ministry statement announced on Saturday.

The European Union (EU)-League of Arab States (LAS) summit will be held at the International Congress Centre in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday and Monday, according to the European Council’s website. 

The summit will, for the first time, bring together the heads of state or government from both blocs.

Safad is expected to deliver an address at the two-day summit, in which 50 European and Arab countries are participating.

European Council President Donald Tusk will co-chair the meeting together with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also representing the EU.

EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn will also attend the summit, which seeks to strengthen Arab-European ties, the website added. 

Leaders will address a wide range of current challenges and common opportunities, such as multilateralism and the rules-based global order, trade and investment, migration, climate change and security.

The summit will also provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss the latest developments in the region, such as the situations with the Middle East Peace Process, Yemen, Libya and Syria, according to the website.