First EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit

The first summit between the leaders of the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will take place today, 16 October, in Brussels.

The summit will be co-chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Emir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as the rotating President of the GCC.

The summit is an opportunity for the EU to develop a closer partnership with the GCC and its member states (the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait), who are geostrategic partners at a time of challenging geopolitical circumstances.

The main topics for discussion are how to further cooperation on:

• common key global challenges
• economic cooperation, including trade and investment
• energy
• sustainability and climate
• connectivity
• people-to-people contacts

EU-GCC relations

EU-GCC relations are based on a cooperation agreement signed in 1989, which establishes regular dialogue on cooperation between the EU and GCC on economic relations, climate change, energy, the environment and research.

The cooperation agreement also established an EU-GCC Joint Council at foreign minister level, which meets regularly. During the Joint Council held in Brussels in February 2022, EU and GCC foreign ministers endorsed a Joint cooperation programme for the 2022-2027, which was updated in October 2023.

The programme outlines specific joint activities and deepened cooperation across numerous sectors:

• trade and investment
• climate change
• green transition
• people-to-people initiatives
• counter-terrorism

In May 2022, the European Commission and the High Representative issued a joint communication on a “Strategic partnership with the Gulf”, which was endorsed by the Council in June 2022. This communication sets out an operational roadmap for the EU to develop closer ties with the GCC member states.

In June 2022, Luigi Di Maio was appointed as the first-ever EU Special Representative for the Gulf. He is responsible for further developing a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with the countries in the Gulf region.

Trade

The European Union is the second-largest trade partner for the GCC countries, generating €170 bn in trade in 2023

In 2023, imports of mineral fuels accounted for over 75% of EU imports from GCC countries.

Since 2020, fuel imports have more than tripled – due to a sharp shift in the EU’s supply sources, caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Further information: European Council