Middle East

EU, Arab leaders in first summit focus on security, migrants

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Security guards walk along the main hall of the Sharm El Sheikh convention centre in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Leaders from the European Union and Arab countries are holding their first-ever summit aimed at deepening ties on migration, security and trade. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A television cameraman works at the entrance hall of the Sharm El Sheikh convention centre in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Leaders from the European Union and Arab countries are holding their first-ever summit aimed at deepening ties on migration, security and trade. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Leaders from European Union and Arab League countries are holding their first-ever summit, meeting in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss migration, security and business deals.

Under tight security, the leaders are likely Sunday to commit to tackle conflicts in Syria and Yemen or stalled Middle East peace efforts, while papering over major differences about how to resolve them or who might be responsible.

Amid this public display of unity, just drafting a summit statement has proved a trying affair. EU-Arab League foreign ministers failed to agree earlier this month on a text after Hungary objected to the section on migration.

Europe's migration challenge is at the heart of the two-day meeting, being held under the slogan "Investing in Stability."