Parlamentközi ülések

4th EP-Bahrain Interparliamentary Meeting on 1 November 2021

The European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP) paid a two-day visit to Manama (Kingdom of Bahrain) on 1 - 2 November 2021, this being the first official EP visit since 2013, in order to hold the 4th Interparliamentary meeting EU-Bahrain.

The delegation was composed of 5 Members, led by Sven Simon (European People's Party, Germany), Ismail Ertug (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Germany); José Ramón Bauzá Díaz (Renew, Spain); Diana Riba i Giner (Greens, Spain) and Ryszard Czarnecki (European Conservatives and Reformists, Poland).

During the visit, Members discussed the state of EU-Bahrain relations, the perspectives of improvement of bilateral trade relations as a part of the GCC block, as well as the modernisation of the Bahraini economy in accordance with the ambitious "Bahrain Economic vision 2030".

Political and security challenges in the Gulf, including relations with key regional actors, were also debated by the Delegation with its Bahraini counterparts, as well as the current geopolitical scenario including Bahrain's accession to the "Abraham accords" with Israel.

The delegation held a fruitful exchange of views with H.E. Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, on the recent elections in Iraq and the situation in Iran. Members shared Bahraini concerns about stability in the region but also stressed the need for negotiated political solutions to the regional disputes with full respect for international law.

Members met with H.E Mrs Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as H.E Mr Ali bin Saleh al-Saleh, the chairperson of the Shura Council. Members stressed the need of carrying out and promoting regular visits and mutual contacts at the level of parliamentary speakers, delegations, and relevant official committees.

During the meetings held in Manama, the visa waiver issue for Bahraini citizens was also evoked. Bahraini representatives asked the EP to interpose its good offices for a successful conclusion of this long-standing issue.

In several other meetings, the Members of the delegation were able to exchange views on the process of social and economic transformation undertaken by the Kingdom of Bahrain, showing especial interest in environmental issues, women empowerment, and economic reforms in the Kingdom.

Members also discussed the situation of human rights, voicing the EP's concern about the end of the moratorium of the death penalty. They also discussed the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the conditions in prisons in Bahrain, welcoming the tour provided to EU ambassadors in Jau Prison in May 2021.

Members commended the EEAS-Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs annual Human Rights dialogue, which continued during the Covid-19 crisis, and proposed to reinforce the EU-Bahrain dialogue on Human Rights at the inter-parliamentary level. On that sense, both chairs agreed to pursue cooperation next year with another inter-parliamentary meeting organised in Brussels.