One year after its adoption on 18 May 2022, the European Union?’s Joint Communication on a strategic partnership with the Gulf has begun to yield desired results.
A strengthened partnership is beneficial both for the EU and for the Gulf partners, says the 17-page document which addresses a series of key policy areas and presents concrete proposals for strengthened EU-GCC cooperation in a vast number of areas.
These include energy, green transition and climate change, trade and economic diversification, regional stability and global security, humanitarian and development challenges, and closer people-to-people contacts.
Together the 27-member EU and the 6-member GCC represent 20 percent of the global economy, 17.5 percent of global trade, and cover more than half of global foreign direct investments.
In the last one-year, high-level EU-GCC visits and meetings have become more frequent with the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, holding several meetings with GCC foreign ministers at the sidelines of international gatherings such as the UN.
European Council President Charles Michel visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE during a tour of the region in September while European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, delivered a keynote speech at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain in November.
Other EU Commissioners also visited the Gulf region to boost energy and economic cooperation.
On June 16, 2023, GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in Brussels and discussed bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest and described his encounter with the head of the EU diplomacy as “very important and comprehensive.” On his part, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs, Peter Stano, described the meeting as “very good proving the commitment and attachment of both sides to deliver on this jointly defined ambition of deepening our relationship.” Al-Budaiwi and representatives from all six GCC countries participated in the seventh Brussels ministerial conference on Syria held on 15 June.
Yet, the main catalyst in the intensification in EU-GCC contacts and meetings comes after the appointment of the first EU Special Representative for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
On his first day in office as EUSR for the Gulf on 1 June, Luigi Di Maio tweeted “ready & fully committed to engage with EU Member States & institutions, and each of our partners in the region. So much at stake and so much to do, through genuine dialogue & mutual respect. For our shared security & prosperity.” The former Italian foreign minister took up his post only three weeks ago but the number of EU-GCC meetings and visits have multiplied, unseen in many years.
In less than a month, Di Maio met all the six Brussels-based GCC ambassadors, the new head of the GCC mission to the EU, the Secretary General of the GCC, a group of visiting journalists from GCC countries, plus a number of other EU and GCC officials in an effort to enhance EU-GCC engagements and cooperation.
In his tweet after meeting Al Budaiwi on 16 June, the EU?’s Gulf envoy expressed his “strong support, pragmatism and shared ambition to seek jointly best ways to advance the security and prosperity of our regions and the EU strategic partnership with the GCC.” After meeting a 11-member media delegation from GCC countries in Brussels on 21 June Di Maio tweeted “great honour to meet today in Brussels key journalists from GCC countries.
“Our people and regions need to better communicate, listen to and understand each other! This is key to build trust and enable our strategic partnership,” he said.
Following his meeting with the Ambassador of Kuwait to the EU, Nawaf Al-Enezi on 15 June, he expressed his “strong support and readiness to work closely to advance the EU partnership with Kuwait and the Gulf region. Ready to visit the country and engage in fruitful dialogue.” On his part, Ambassador Al-Enezi tweeted that “GCC-EU strong partnership will enhance prosperity and security for all partners & strengthen the common capacity to address global challenges.” Di Maio tweeted similar encouraging messages after meeting with other GCC ambassadors.
Besides the meetings and visits in the Belgian capital, important conferences between Europe and GCC countries were held in Germany and France.
A landmark two-day business event “Vision Golfe 2023” showcasing opportunities for commercial partnerships between France and the GCC states was held in Paris on 13-14 June.
Vision Golfe is a new platform promoting business cooperation in both private and public sectors, such as trade, sports, culture, energy and the environment between France and the GCC.
Germany and GCC member states concluded talks on 20 June on common security challenges, chiefly, the repercussions of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Kuwait praised the outcome of the gathering in Germany as a step towards greater bilateral security cooperation and an opportunity to focus on “joint interests”, according to a KUNA dispatch from Berlin.
However, EU-GCC relations last year ran into a few bumps in particular after the EU Parliament?’s decision to postpone granting of Schengen visas to some GCC countries.
Moreover, attempts were made to implicate a Gulf country in the outbreak of a major financial scandal that hit the European Parliament.
The EU-GCC Free trade negotiations are still in limbo since more than 20 years.
But the growing positive atmosphere meeting surrounding EU-GCC relations have raised hopes that all outstanding issues will be resolved in the near future.
All in all, June can be safely described as a “landmark and crucial” month in bringing EU-GCC relations closer and stronger.
The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Source: Kuwait News Agency