EU and Gulf cooperation council summit marks new era

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Sonjib Chandra Das
  • Update Time : Thursday, October 17, 2024
EU and Gulf

In an increasingly interconnected world, regional partnerships are essential to addressing global challenges and fostering long-term stability. The first-ever summit between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), scheduled to take place in Brussels, promises to take EU-Gulf relations to a new level. This historic meeting, convening at the level of heads of state and government, sends a powerful message to both citizens of the two regions and the international community: the EU and the GCC are committed to developing a strategic partnership fit for the 21st century.

The upcoming summit builds on the strong foundation of cooperation between the EU and the GCC, a relationship that has been growing in dynamism and significance over the years. The EU-Gulf strategic partnership, formalized in 2022, underscored the strategic importance of the Gulf region to the EU. It also laid out concrete proposals and action plans to accelerate collaboration across a broad range of sectors, including energy, climate change, trade and economic diversification, regional stability, global security, and humanitarian challenges.

The appointment of the EU’s first special representative for the Gulf, Luigi Di Maio, in May 2023, marked a key step toward deepening this partnership. Di Maio’s role is to ensure that the EU’s relationship with the GCC is managed with the highest level of coordination and to facilitate collaboration on the many pressing issues facing both regions. With the groundwork laid, the upcoming summit provides the perfect opportunity to push these efforts forward.

The summit comes at a critical time, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and North Africa, ranging from Palestine to Sudan and from Lebanon to the Red Sea. These regional crises are a reminder of the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to maintain peace and stability. Both the EU and the GCC have a shared interest in preventing further military escalation in these areas and in promoting political solutions through diplomacy and dialogue.

A key focus of the summit will be enhancing cooperation on security issues. Leaders will explore ways to strengthen counterterrorism efforts, maritime security, nonproliferation measures, and responses to cyber and hybrid threats. In an era of increasing digital interdependence, safeguarding critical infrastructure and combating cyberattacks have become top priorities for both regions.

This security cooperation builds on the EU-GCC regional security dialogue launched in January in Riyadh, as well as the joint high-level forum on regional security held in Luxembourg in April. The success of these platforms has already paved the way for further collaboration, with second editions of both planned for 2025. The summit will reaffirm both sides’ commitment to working together on regional security, ensuring that strategic coordination remains a central element of their partnership.

Among the many security challenges facing the region, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most complex and enduring. The EU and the GCC, alongside Saudi Arabia and other international partners, have recently launched a global alliance aimed at advancing a two-state solution. The summit will provide an opportunity to reiterate their joint commitment to finding a lasting resolution to this conflict. By supporting diplomacy and dialogue, the EU and the GCC hope to help foster a sustainable peace that benefits not only Israelis and Palestinians but also the broader region.

The EU and the GCC are also key players in the humanitarian arena, providing vital support to those affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and other crises. At the summit, leaders will discuss ways to enhance cooperation on disaster management and emergency response. Given the frequency of natural disasters and the scale of humanitarian crises around the world, such coordination is essential for ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most in a timely and effective manner.

This enhanced humanitarian cooperation will build on the strengths of both regions. The EU, as one of the largest humanitarian donors in the world, has a wealth of experience in managing crises and delivering aid. The GCC, for its part, has made significant contributions to humanitarian relief, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, where its proximity to many conflict zones gives it a unique role to play.

One of the most important aspects of the EU-GCC partnership is their economic relationship. The EU is already a key economic partner for the Gulf, with bilateral trade in goods amounting to €170 billion ($185 billion) in 2023. In addition, the EU’s outward investments in the GCC, which reached €215 billion in 2022, make it one of the largest investors in the region.

At the summit, leaders will discuss ways to further deepen economic ties, with a particular focus on supporting the GCC’s economic diversification efforts. The Gulf countries are working to reduce their reliance on oil and gas and transition to more diversified and sustainable economies. The EU, with its expertise in green and digital technologies, is well-placed to support these efforts.

The upcoming EU-GCC business forum, scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, next month, will be another key event in this regard. The forum will bring together business leaders from both regions to explore new opportunities for trade and investment. In a sign of the growing importance of these economic ties, the first European Chamber of Commerce in the Gulf was inaugurated in Riyadh in May 2024, providing a platform for European businesses to engage more deeply with the Gulf market.

Discussions are also ongoing regarding a potential EU-GCC free trade agreement. Although such an agreement remains a longer-term goal, the summit will likely see both sides exploring other options to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

Energy and sustainability are also high on the agenda for the summit. Both the EU and the GCC are keen to collaborate on the green and digital transition, sustainable energy, and connectivity. The Gulf’s vast natural resources, combined with the EU’s expertise in renewable energy and digital innovation, make for a promising partnership in these areas. As both regions work to reduce their carbon footprints and transition to more sustainable energy sources, this collaboration will become increasingly important.

People-to-people exchanges remain at the heart of the EU-GCC relationship. The EU has already taken steps to make travel between the two regions easier, with new visa rules introduced in April 2024 allowing GCC nationals to obtain five-year multiple-entry visas upon their first application. Further efforts are underway to achieve visa-free travel between the Schengen area and all GCC countries.

Educational exchange programs, such as Erasmus+, also play a key role in strengthening the bonds between Europe and the Gulf. These programs enable GCC students and researchers to study, work, and live in Europe, fostering greater understanding and collaboration between the people of both regions.

The EU-GCC summit represents a major milestone in the relationship between Europe and the Gulf. By coming together to address shared challenges, both regions are demonstrating their commitment to a future based on peace, security, prosperity, and mutual trust. With strategic coordination on issues ranging from security and trade to energy and education, the summit promises to pave the way for a stronger, more dynamic partnership that benefits citizens in both Europe and the Gulf for years to come.

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Avatar photo Sonjib Chandra Das is a Staff Correspondent of Blitz.

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