Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
European Union Foreign Policy Coordinator Josep Borrell held a meeting with senior officials in the Gulf Cooperation Council on how to strengthen cooperation with Gulf partners for peace to achieve prosperity in the region. A post on the X website of the European Union delegation to the Gulf Cooperation Council said, “We need an urgent way out of the conflict, ending human suffering, and reaching a political solution.” The European Union confirmed that it is ready to deepen relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
   This came after a meeting between Josep Borrell and the Commissioner-General of UNRWA. A post on the X website written by Luis Bueno, the European Union spokesman in the Middle East, said about the talks and their content, “In addition to the horrific situation in Gaza: 85% of the population is displaced, 100% suffers from food insecurity; Hundreds of millions are homeless; 150 UNRWA employees killed. We must preserve and continue to support UNRWA as an essential provider of services to Palestinians.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 7 and 8 January.
According to a European statement in Brussels, during his visit, the meeting agenda includes holding talks with high-level interlocutors, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi.
This mission comes on the heels of his trip to Lebanon and is part of High Representative Borrell’s cooperation with regional partners to strengthen diplomatic efforts with the aim of creating conditions for a just and lasting peace between Israel, Palestine and the region.
The trip will be an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the situation in and around Gaza, including its impact on the region. It will also address the worrying escalation in the Red Sea.
High Representative Borrell will also have the opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional priorities with Saudi interlocutors within the framework of the EU partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council.