As defined in the Council Decision 2011/424/CFSP, the main political objectives of the EUSR relate to the recent developments in the Arab world calling for a strengthened and comprehensive response from the EU, supporting the democratic transitions in the countries in the Southern Mediterranean region.

Acting as a multiplier and a catalyst, the Task Force is a tool deepens the EUs partnership with the countries in a results-oriented and differentiated way, involving all EU institutions (EEAS, the Commission services as well as the EIB).

EU Task Forces have been conducted with: – Tunisia (28–29 September 2011) co-chaired by the High Representative Catherine Ashton and the Tunisian Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi.

In 2003, Edward Said, Daniel Barenboim and Bernardino León, founded the Barenboim-Said Foundation, which focused on the West Eastern Divan orchestra for young musicians from the Arab countries of the Middle East and Israel.

During this time, León was instrumental in the launch of the Alliance of Civilizations, a prestigious initiative proposed by Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2005.

In 2009 he was appointed, keeping his post as Secretary General of the Presidency, Sherpa for the G20, a forum in which he participated in all negotiations and summits and involved holding a very active role in major international economic and financial issues.

[13][14] The situation threatened peace talks at the time when press reports based on the leaked emails indicated that the UAE was violating[15] United Nations arms embargoes on Libya.