BRUSSELS: Senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the European Union (EU) convened the 33rd meeting of the EU-GCC Joint Cooperation Committee in Brussels on Friday, co-chaired by Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister Najeeb Al-Bader and Helene Le Gal, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the EU’s European External Action Service (EEAS). Representatives of the GCC Secretariat and the European Commission also attended.
Al-Bader said the meeting provided an opportunity to review progress in political, economic, social and security cooperation between the two blocs, as well as the latest developments in free trade talks. Speaking to KUNA, he noted that discussions also focused on Kuwait’s preparations to host the 29th EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting and the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, scheduled for October 5-6, as well as the EU-GCC Business Forum on November 5, which aims to strengthen partnerships in trade, investment and economic development.
“The meeting reflected a high level of mutually beneficial cooperation between GCC countries and European partners,” Al-Bader said, adding that the GCC side stressed the importance of reinforcing strategic coordination amid regional and international challenges to ensure sustainable development. He highlighted the need for joint initiatives in areas such as the digital economy, energy security and green transformation.
On behalf of the GCC, Al-Bader reaffirmed the bloc’s firm support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also underscored the GCC’s backing of regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. — KUNA
