PM calls for more dialogue with Arab states

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has called for more active dialogue and deeper cooperation between the EU and the League of Arab States to effectively address the global challenges during the first EU-League of Arab States summit, said the government in a press release.

The heads of state or government from Europe and the League of Arab States met in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 24–25 February to find ways to respond to challenges relating to migration, climate change and terrorism.

“Sustainable peace and development requires all of us to participate. Women and the young have a key role in this. Young people are bursting with ideas, and we must allow them to focus their energy to taking action for the benefit of society. They should have ideas for the future of their immediate surroundings as well”, Prime Minister Sipilä said in his address to the plenary session of the summit.

He also pointed to the important role of women. “We cannot make full progress with our development efforts by making use of only half of our society’s resources”, Prime Minister Sipilä said.

In his speeches and discussions Prime Minister Sipilä also stressed the need to protect the rule-based international order and promote sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

The joint declaration issued by the two-day summit stressed the importance of cooperation between the EU and the League of Arab States.

In connection with the summit Prime Minister Sipilä had bilateral discussions with the President of Iraq Barham Salih, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri, Prime Minister of Morocco Saad Dine El Otmani and President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.