Mitteilungen

Dubai, 27 February 2025

Four members of the Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula of the European Parliament, led by Mr Reinhold Lopatka, rounded up talks in the UAE today. In the name of the Delegation, Mr Lopatka stressed that "the delegation's visit is part of our efforts to use parliamentary diplomacy in support of a strategic partnership between the EU and the Gulf region, to deepen dialogue on topics of common interest and to promote better mutual understanding between the peoples of our two regions."

The delegation held talks with Government Ministers, the Federal National Council Speaker and Parliamentarians, business representatives, and with key players in the field of sustainable energy and trade, as well as with representatives of human rights institutions and NGOs.

Members commended the country's ambitious reform action plan and its strong commitment to sustainable development. They emphasised their appreciation for the regular dialogue between the European Parliament and the Federal National Council in the recent years, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation.

Additionally, the delegation engaged with their interlocutors on key regional and international issues, including economic cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, both at regional and bilateral level, the situation in the broader Middle East.

Participants also marked three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and reiterated the importance of upholding international law and maintaining collective efforts to support Ukraine's sovereignty, stability, and resilience. Members take note of the recent UAE agreement with Ukraine.

The delegation welcomes the critical role the UAE plays in mediating crises and providing essential humanitarian aid to those in need. The central message conveyed was that the EU and the GCC countries in general, and the UAE in particular, share common interests in fostering peace and stability in the region and should work closer together towards that goal.

At a meeting hosted by the Federal National Council, the members of the European Parliament and their counterparts from the Gulf-European Parliamentary Committee representing five GCC countries (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) agreed to establish joint meetings to foster a structured dialogue on concrete topics of common interest. "In light of the enhanced inter-regional partnership agreed upon at the EU-GCC Summit in October 2024, it is crucial to ensure that people have a voice in this cooperation. Introducing a parliamentary dimension will strengthen democratic engagement and foster mutual understanding in shaping our shared future.", Mr Lopatka said.

The EP Delegation stressed the importance of more frequent inter-parliamentary contacts, and invited parliamentarians from the UAE to visit the European Parliament as soon as possible.

The MEPs taking part in this visit are: Mr Reinhold Lopatka (Austria), Chair of the Delegation, Ms Abir AL-SAHLANI Vice-Chair (Sweden), Ms Hana Jalloul Muro (Spain) and Mr Antonio López-Istúriz White (Spain)

Brussels, 17 October 2024

"As Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula, I welcome the successful conclusion of the first EU-GCC Summit. I believe this Summit marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the European Union and its partners from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stressing our mutual commitment to strengthening ties across key strategic, economic, and cultural areas", said MEP Reinhold Lopatka after the EU-GCC Summit on Wednesday.

"This summit is a turning point for the relationship of our two regions and reflects the growing recognition of the mutual benefits and the great potential that come from wide-ranging cooperation between the EU and the GCC. From trade, energy policy and climate change, through innovation and culture, to security and fight against terrorism, the EU and the GCC countries are partners in addressing the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving global scene", said Lopatka.

„Especially with a view on the difficult security situation in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the GCC countries are valuable partners.", said Lopatka.

"The EU is the second most important trading partner for this economically enormously strong region, with a trade volume of 170 billion euros last year, and the trend showing upwards", explains Lopatka. The central project of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the EU has long been the negotiation of a free trade agreement, but despite repeated intensive efforts, the negotiations have not yet been successful. "The summit in Brussels can bring new momentum to strategic cooperation on economic issues", said Lopatka.

'The region is particularly interesting for Europe in the area of energy supply, where the focus is on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and increasingly on ever greener hydrogen. We absolutely need this in large quantities for the ecological transformation. In order to reduce their dependence on oil and gas, the Gulf states are building huge wind and solar power plants,' said Lopatka.

"I am confident that this summit has laid a strong foundation for future collaboration, based on trust, shared interests, and mutual respect and understanding. This is just the beginning of a new era in EU-GCC relations, one that will bring lasting benefits to both regions", said Lopatka.

Founded in 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprises Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They have a common internal market; coordinate their foreign and security policies and have agreed mutual assistance in defence. These are very similar elements to those enjoyed by the member states of the European Union.