300 million Europeans and about 350 million Arabs, including all people in the Middle East, need to cooperate closely. A united Europe may include east and south-east European states within the foreseeable future. By then, the Middle East would be a direct neighbour of the euro area.
Clearly, good neighbourly relations – marked by peace, fairness and much closer economic interrelationships than today – should be in the interests of both regions. Both regions have a lot to offer. The Arab region is still gaining in importance for international stability and energy supply. Its large role in international finance, not only by the recycling of petrodollars, is being acknowledged.