EU, GCC seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation

The head of the mission of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Brussels, Ambassador Amal Al Hamad, has emphasized importance of the strategic relationship between the 28-member EU and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

"We seek to deepen and strengthen these ties in particular in the current situation in the Middle East and the painful events in Yemen, Syria and Iraq," she told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) in an interview.

The GCC, she noted, looks forward to coordinate with the EU to find solutions to establish peace and security in the Gulf and the Middle East regions.
Al Hamad indicated at current preparations for two important meetings between the EU and the GCC next week in Brussels.

On Monday, May 4, the 26th meeting of the joint committee will meet and discuss the ongoing work on cooperation between the two sides in accordance with the EU-GCC Cooperation Agreement.

Topics to be discussed include cooperation in energy, research, transport environment, education, development, combating terrorism and terrorism financing.

The 21st meeting of the EU-GCC political dialogue on the experts' level will meet Tuesday, May 5, to discuss important political issues including developments in the EU and the GCC and issues of common interests.

The meeting will cover the latest developments in Yemen, Syria, Iraq the Middle East Peace Process, Libya, Iran and fight against terrorism.

Al Hamad said that, as usual, the GCC delegation will hold a meeting at the GCC mission in Brussels on Sunday to coordinate their positions on subjects that will be discussed at the two meetings with the EU side.

"These meetings have a great important role to strengthen and deepen our relations and we are confident that they will be successful in achieving their aims," stressed Ambassador Al-Hamad.