EU Ambassador to the State: GCC-EU Summit a Key Milestone in Region-to-Region Partnership

HE EU Ambassador to the State of Qatar Dr. Cristian Tudor stressed that the EU-GCC Summit of Their Majesties and Their Highnesses heads of state of GCC countries and EU member countries, which will take place in Brussels tomorrow Wednesday will be a key milestone to give a further boost to the region-to-region partnership, given its the first-ever Summit at the level of heads of state. In press remarks to comment on the summit, His Excellency highlighted that the summit confirms the intention held by both blocs to elevate the growing partnership between the EU and the GCC to the strategic level. He also noted that a stronger partnership between the GCC and the EU will allow for addressing arising challenges together, in addition to providing an opportunity to work together on crucial themes of mutual interest and build a partnership based on sustainable prosperity and stability for both sides. He Pointed out that this summit represents the first time ever that Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of G CC states, meet with the heads of state and government of 27 countries of the European Union, under the joint chairmanship of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and HE President of the European Council Charles Michel, with the participation of HE President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representative and Vice President (HR/VP) of the European Commission Josep Borrell. HE the Ambassador pointed out that the summit reflects the EU's commitment to cooperate with regional actors and call for diplomacy, dialogue, restraint, and preventing further military escalation in the region, expressing the EU's gratitude to its partners in the Gulf for their intensive efforts to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a ceasefire, and to promote the two-state solution. His Excellency affirmed the interconnectedness of the security of the two regions, noting that this will require strategic coordination on key regional security files (de-escalation in the Middle East, a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, regional nuclear non-proliferation, Russias aggression against Ukraine, violence in the Horn of Africa) is an important deliverable of the Summit. His Excellency also said that, as a regional organization, the GCC is one of EUs key security partners. Likewise, the EU intends to become a security interlocutor for the GCC. As a result, both sides will discuss enhanced cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, and cyber and hybrid threats as well as response to disasters. His Excellency also said that the Summit will be the occasion to establish structured cooperation on disaster management and emergency response through the signature of an Agreement between the EUs Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the GCC Emergency Management Centre (GCC-EMC). HE EU Ambassador to the State of Qatar said that recent developments in the Red Sea proved that maritime security is important for the EU and for the GCC partners given it is a shared interest and key for global trade. He also highlighted that GCC countries are key players in energy markets and major investors in renewables and green hydrogen, and can play a key role in global decarbonization efforts. His Excellency said that there are a number of global challenges that the EU wants to address together or in close coordination with the GCC in multilateral fora, such as the fight against climate change, conflict resolution, sustainable development, finance, and humanitarian assistance, In addition to paving the way for deeper cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, green and digital economy, sustainable energy, education, research and innovation, bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, vocational training, womens empowerment, skills development, civic engagement and investment in projects that connect Asia, the Middle East and Europe through traditional and digital infrastructure. Source: Qatar News Agency