The shared desire to broaden cooperation, along with the recognition that regional and European security are interconnected, was reflected in a high-level consultative meeting held in Cyprus on Friday between the leaders of several Arab countries, including Egypt, and the leaders of the European Union.
In his address to the meeting, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi noted that recent regional crises have clearly demonstrated the urgent need for dialogue, cooperation, and burden-sharing among the Arab and European countries in order to develop common understandings that prevent their recurrence of such conflicts.
“It has become clear that isolation is not the path to stability. The correct path is dialogue, addressing challenges boldly, sharing responsibilities, and developing joint visions for the benefit of our peoples and future generations,” Al-Sisi said.
The meeting was meant to strengthen dialogue on shared challenges, including de-escalation efforts in the region. According to Mohamed Al-Orabi, an Egyptian former foreign minister, it drew up a strategic vision based on cooperation and development between the Arab and European countries.
“It was held at the time when new realities are imposing themselves on the region,” Al-Orabi told Al-Ahram Weekly. It was “an opportunity to prepare for future challenges. And Egypt is a main player in that vision, given its pivotal role in de-escalating tension in the region,” he said.
According to Ahmed Sayed Ahmed, an expert in international affairs, the meeting was held at a time of international disorder when setbacks are occurring in international law and the settling of conflicts in a peaceful manner.
“The reigning theory at present is that of the superpowers, which manipulate their veto power while sidelining the role of the UN and the Security Council,” he said.
Arab leaders who attended the meeting included Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Various European leaders including the leaders of France, Spain, and Denmark, as well as the presidents of the European Council and European Commission attended the meeting.
While the meeting was an opportunity for Al-Sisi to re-affirm Egypt’s full support for the security of “brotherly Arab states as an integral part of Egypt’s national security”, he highlighted the urgent need to establish a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction and the full and non-selective implementation of nuclear non-proliferation in the region.
He noted with concern the continued tense situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, whether in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or the Gaza Strip, and he reminded the attendees of the necessity of the Palestinian people remaining on their land, the importance of the Palestinian national committee assuming responsibility for governing Gaza, the need for all the parties to proceed with implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and the importance of launching early recovery and reconstruction projects across the Strip to ensure the restoration of normal life for the Palestinian people.
He called on the European partners to maintain their support for the Palestinian cause and resist any attempts to sideline it amid shifting geopolitical developments. He also addressed other regional issues, including the situations in Lebanon and Sudan.
The EU has largely remained on the sidelines of the latest developments in the Middle East. However, during the meeting, it voiced its concern about the volatile situation in the region and expressed a wish for more cooperation and sustained dialogue between the Arab countries and the European Union to safeguard stability across the Mediterranean.
Holding the meeting in Cyprus reflected a deep awareness of the shared destiny of the two sides of the Mediterranean.
The EU stand was not unexpected, Ahmed said, as it realises the impacts of any negative development in the Middle East on the European continent.
He said Europe has recently been grappling with major internal and external challenges, including the rise of hardline political currents, a worsening economic outlook, Brexit, and the Russia-Ukraine war, all of which have disrupted energy, security, and food supply chains.
These developments, he added, have shaken the idea of European unity and have prompted Europeans to search for other options, including stronger cooperation with the Arab states.
During the Cyprus meeting, they called for dialogue and further cooperation. European Council President Antonio Costa told a press conference after the meeting that the EU is concerned about the Iran war and wants to see the parties agree on a political solution.
Diplomacy is the only sustainable way forward, and the European Union is ready to contribute to all ongoing efforts, he added.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen described the extension of the shaky truce between Israel and Lebanon as “not enough” and called for a permanent settlement.
“You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames,” she said. “A temporary pause is not enough.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that “Europe must do even more” to help end the crisis.
“It is in everyone’s interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world’s economies to be reassured,” Macron said.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Al-Sisi met with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides, and the two leaders signed a joint declaration to elevate relations between Cairo and Nicosia to the level of a strategic partnership.
They also discussed the latest regional developments and Egypt’s endeavours to de-escalate tensions in the region and restore peace and stability, particularly on the Iranian issue.
Al-Sisi held several other meetings on the sidelines of the meeting, notably with the presidents of France and Romania, the German chancellor, the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, and Ireland, and the secretary-general of the GCC.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 30 April, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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