3rd EU ARAB WORLD SUMMIT

3rd EU ARAB WORLD SUMMIT
Shared Horizons
October 29th – 30th, 2018
Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall

In 2016, in cooperation with the Government of the Hellenic Republic, we decided to create an international Forum of economic and political dialogue between the EU and the Arab World. Our goal has been to identify and promote our common interests and values collectively and single out key priority areas for cooperation, taking account of regional and global challenges.

Based on the significant success of the first two Summits, held on 2016 and 2017 in Athens, the 3rd EU Arab World Summit entitled ‘’Shared Horizons”, aims to serve again as a unique bridge of communication between two rapidly changing world regions, Europe and the Arab world; and to provide the necessary platform and tools for enhanced cooperation that is key to our prosperity and security.

In this endeavor, we have been granted the auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, while we enjoy the endorsement of H.E. the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic and the support of the Hellenic Government. The Summit is organized Under the Patronage of the European Parliament.

The Summit’s vision is to continue forging a deep and comprehensive relationship between the EU and the Arab World, based on a solid foundation. Such a foundation would be characterized by enhanced and diversified strategic, political, economic, energy and trade ties; acceptance of each other’s legitimate needs, concerns, and interests; and the promotion of our common values in respect of each other’s unique cultural heritage.

The 3d EU-Arab Summit aims therefore to achieve four main objectives:

1.  Act as a unique forum of dialogue and a platform for bringing together political and economic leaders to discuss regional and global challenges that impact directly on our security and economic prosperity. Provide the business community with the opportunity to interact with political leaders as well as fellow economic leaders and enterprises.
2.  Discuss strategies, share information, identify and pursue opportunities for greater inter-regional cooperation in both the political and the economic spheres.
3. Advance and diffuse knowledge and understanding of common challenges, by bringing together policymakers, influential business leaders and scholars, in order to find solutions for a fair, sustainable and balanced growth for both regions.
4. Contribute to the deepening of the relationship between the EU and the Arab world by enhancing common understanding of challenges and mutual respect. Identify thorny issues and misperceptions and serve as an extra platform of dialogue and cooperation.

Topics to be discussed during the Summit

A. European and Arab Neighborhood Policies in the Mediterranean, Africa and the
Middle East

• Foreign and Security Policies in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East
• European Neighborhood Policy – Arab Neighborhood Policies
• Past and Future Horizons of Arab-European Relations
• Making Multilateralism Work in the Euro-Arab Region
• Power Dynamics and Strategic Relations between the Arab World and Europe

B. Migration Policies in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East
• Migration Policies and Tackling of the Refugee Crisis in Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and Africa

C. Climate Change and Energy Cooperation
• Mitigating Climate Change after the Paris Accord
• Euro-Arab energy efficiency policies
• Natural Gas in the South-Eastern Mediterranean and EU Energy Security
•Networks and Connectivity in the Euro-Arab Region

D. Recent FDI trends in Europe and the Arab World
• Growth and Social Investment Policies
• Transport, Shipping, construction, logistics
• Jobs, Skills and Youth Employability
• Trade Policies & Cooperation
 Companies expanding to MENA region: Rules and Regulations with the GCC
• Investment Policies and Finance: Innovative, Smart Investments

E. Greece and the Arab World: A Multi-level Cooperation

F. Potential Role of Europe in Developing Digital Economy in the Arab Countries
* Digital transformation visions in the Arab countries
* Investment opportunities in the digital economy in the Arab countries: e-commerce, smart cities, digital infrastructure, IoT
* EU role in funding digital transformation projects and training

G. Role of Transportation in Promoting Growth in Trade and Investment between EU
and Arab Countries
* Impact of the Euro-Arab partnership and collaboration in transportation on
economic development, trade and investment
* Potential of linking and integrating road and railway networks
* Identifying key projects of integration in transportation
* Promoting PPP in transportation projects
* Strengthening shipping lines and ports integration between EU and Arab countries
* How can the EU and Arab countries create shipping hubs, and attract investment
into ports and logistics.

H. Arab-European Financial Opportunities
I. Support of the EU for SMEs and MMEs

Among the distinguished speakers that participated in the EU Arab Summits of 2016 and 2017
are:
H.E. Alexis Tsipras
Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
H.E. Nikos Anastasiades
President of the Republic of Cyprus
H.E. Dr. Joseph Muscat
Prime Minister of Malta
Kamal Hasan Ali
Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, Arab League
Dr. Jawad Anani
Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Maros Sefcovic
European Commission Vice President, Energy Union
Dimitris Avramopoulos
EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs & Citizenship
Christos Stylianides
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management
Dr. Riyad Al–Maliki
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine
Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri
Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates
Tarek Kabil
Minister of Trade and Industry of Egypt
Panagiotis Kouroumblis
Minister of Shipping, Maritime Affairs & Island Policy, Hellenic Republic
Abeer Odeh
Minister of National Economy of Palestine
Dimitris Papadimitriou
Minister of Economy and Development
Muhannad Shehadeh
Minister of State for Investment Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Christos Spirtzis
Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks
George Stathakis
Minister of Environment & Energy of the Hellenic Republic
Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Qatar
George Katrougalos
Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic
Elena Kountoura
Alternate Minister of Tourism, Hellenic Republic
Abdulrahman Al Harbi
Deputy Minister for Trade & Investments, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Miguel Angel Moratinos
f. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (2004-2010), Spain
Dr. Nabeel Shaath
Representative of the President of Palestine, H.E. Mahmoud Abbas
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of New Democracy Party and Leader of the Opposition of the Hellenic Republic
Dominique Ristori
Director General for Energy, European Commission
General Mikhail Kostarakos
Chairman of the European Union Military Committee
Chrystalla Georghadji
Governor, Central Bank of Cyprus
Janet Heckman
Managing Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Dr. Yannis Stournaras
Governor of the Bank of Greece
Senator Nael Al Kabariti
President, Union of Arab Chambers
Hafida Benchehida
Senator of the Republic of Algeria
Khadim Mohammed Jawad Hassan Al-Hassani
Economic Counselor to the Prime Minister of Iraq
Hisham Ayoub
Foreign Investors Association, Vice President, Bahrain
Khamis Juma Buamim
MoB of Directors, Managing Director, Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC
Constantine Michalos
President, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Abdulaziz Al-Mikhlafi
Secretary General, Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dr. Carole Nakhle
CEO, Crystol Energy, Scholar Carnegie Middle East Centre
Nancy Okail
Ph.D., Executive Director, The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy
Ian Walker
Managing Director, MEC Middle East Consultants
Mona Zobaa
Chair of General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, Egypt