EU says reinvigorated GCC offers opportunities for enhanced cooperation

BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- European Union High Representative Josep Borrell Wednesday said that "the positive dynamics of a reinvigorated GCC, that contributes to de-escalating tensions in the region, offers opportunities for enhanced EU-GCC institutional engagement on strategic areas of mutual interest." This position was expressed by Borrell following a meeting with ministers of the 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York last evening.
According to a statement released by his office today, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss latest developments in the region and the prospects for a strengthened EU-GCC dialogue and cooperation.
The parties discussed the preparation of an EU-GCC Joint Council to be held next year under the Saudi presidency of the GCC.
Borrell stressed that over 30 years since the signature of the EU-GCC agreement the EU "is determined to explore further ways of cooperation with the GCC and its members, both on regional and global issues, including green and digital transition and post-Covid-19 recovery." The GCC delegation was composed of the GCC Secretary General Nayef Al-Hajraf; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, in representation of the current GCC chairmanship; Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, and representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, it noted. (end) nk.mt