First Gulf-European Summit Kicks off in Brussels

The first Gulf-European summit kicked off on Wednesday, highlighting potential economic and strategic cooperation between the GCC countries and the European Union at a critical time full of conflicts and challenges.

This comes in the presence of Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as the heads of state and government of the European Union in Brussels.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi said in his speech during the launch of the events, “We are expanding cooperation in the field of energy with the European Union,” adding that the Council’s partnership with Europe holds many potentials and opportunities, and that the Council countries seek to strengthen strategic relations with the European Union.

Al-Budaiwi added that “the strategic partnership holds many potentials to achieve higher levels of economic, political and security integration and enhance communication between our peoples, and this historic summit will drive the wheel of this integration to achieve what we all aspire to.”

On her part, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said, “The GCC summit is a historic precedent in relations between the European Union and the Gulf, and comes at a critical time,” adding, “In times of conflict and climate challenges, Europe will always be a partner for peace and economic progress.”

Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of international cooperation in providing resources to achieve sustainability goals, saying, “Our vision for sustainability cannot be achieved without preserving our resources, as demonstrated by COP28,” which was held in the United Arab Emirates last year.

The President of the European Council Charles Michel also stressed that the European Union is ready to build a strategic partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, saying, “The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are united by a genuine desire to work together to achieve further progress and prosperity and build a strategic partnership.”