Last week, in the picturesque Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, two dozen leaders of the European Union, including stalwart names such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk, held a first-ever summit with the League of Arab States.

Mr Tusk talked of a "real partnership" between the Arab world and Europe to confront common challenges at a time when the global rules-based order was under threat. These he listed as dealing with international security crises and terrorism, fighting climate change and mass population displacement, and ensuring sustainable growth and investment in an uncertain global economy.