Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
At the first ever high-level forum on regional security and cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council. EU foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell said the high level of engagement on both sides. Evidence of the importance we attach to our relationship. It also reflects our shared desire to strengthen our dialogue on security and cooperation between the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council and their respective member states. We share many interests and have similar views on many topics. We can do more together, and we want to do more together. To achieve this goal, we need this type of dialogue in order to exchange perceptions and viewpoints. According to what was stated in a statement issued last night in Brussels, in which Borrell added, “On the part of the European Union, in May 2022 we adopted a joint statement on a strategic partnership with the Gulf, and in June 2023 we appointed a new Special Representative of the European Union for the Gulf region, Luigi Di Maio, and I am grateful.” “This reflects the high level of ambition we have for our partnership on many topics, including – in particular – security.
We met last October in Muscat – those were dramatic days – to make a joint council a success, and we organized the first structured EU-GCC security dialogue in January. Concrete ways to increase cooperation in vital sectors such as maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism and disaster preparedness were identified.
Today, we will have the opportunity to be more effective and openly discuss cooperation and topics of mutual interest regarding our security including the Middle East, the tragic situation in Gaza, Ukraine, the dangerous situation in the Red Sea, and many other issues.
We will also have the opportunity to hear from our partners about the Gulf Cooperation Council's vision for regional security. We are eagerly awaiting this vision, and we very much welcome this vision, which conveys a strong message of unity and lays the foundation for strengthening cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and its partners. We are very honored to be one of them.
We look forward to continuing our cooperation. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that next month, we will witness the launch of a new program entitled “Young Leaders in Regional Diplomacy”. For the first time, young diplomats from the GCC and GCC member states will participate in joint training with diplomats from the European Union and EU member states currently based at the recently established European Diplomatic Academy, near Brussels. In the historic city of Bruges. As you can see, we are already laying the foundations for increased cooperation between our diplomats in the future.
This will serve as a cornerstone for getting closer to each other, to understanding each other better and working together better in the future.
I would also like to note and welcome the Commission’s adoption this morning of decisions that would allow the harmonization of the rules for issuing multiple-entry visas for Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
He also spoke about the recent developments in the region and said, of course, the retaliatory attack launched by Iran on Israel one week ago is still on everyone's minds. This attack, as well as the attack on the Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, has been strongly condemned by us. These events could lead to further escalation in the region. As you also did, the European Union unanimously calls for restraint.
The European Union Foreign Affairs Council has just politically agreed to impose sanctions on Iran. We need to do more - definitely. We must all focus on redoubling our efforts to calm a very tense situation by using the channels we have with actors in the region. Our discussion - our meeting - is therefore a very appropriate occasion to see how we can collectively work concretely to calm the situation.
Let me stress that in times of turmoil and heightened tensions, peace and multilateralism are challenged in our regions, and more than ever we need to work together to resolve crises, prevent escalation and support a safer and more stable international environment.