Summit of nine countries from the South of the European Union on the Middle East and migration
The heads of state and government of the Med9, which brings together nine southern countries of the European Union (EU), will focus on the situation in the Middle East, migration and the EU’s Mediterranean policy during a summit on Friday in Cyprus, the French presidency reported on Thursday.
The leaders of eight of the Med9 countries (France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia) will be present – not the Portuguese Prime Minister – as well as the King of Jordan, Abdullah, II and the President of the Commission European, Ursula von der Leyen.
In Paphos (in western Cyprus), they will discuss the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, where violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers is increasing, as well as the strengthening of the relationship between Jordan and the EU and the agenda of the next European Commission.
“There is a desire to have a Mediterranean policy on both traditional issues in terms of civil security”like forest fires, but also “in terms of transport, [de politique] energy and competitiveness »underlined an advisor to the French president, Emmanuel Macron. In the Middle East, « [les] levers are limited, but it is a question of building more European convergences”notes the Elysée. The Med9 will notably evoke a “strengthening humanitarian aid to Gaza”said Paris.
