Brussels, 10/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting in Brussels on 10 November, the European Parliament delegation for cooperation with the Arab peninsula took stock of relations with the countries of the region, expressing concern over the situation in Yemen and the possibility of human rights infringements especially in Bahrain, where a law has just been passed, against the wishes of the government, criminalising all contacts by Bahraini nationals with Israel.
The head of the Parliamentary delegation, Angelika Niebler (CSU), said that there were risks of civil war in Yemen, as witnessed by recent events affecting the security of the country and its borders with Saudi Arabia. The EU, she added, had offered its support to help stabilise the region.
Speaking for the European Commission, Patricia Llombart-Cussac, head of unit with responsibility for relations with Yemen, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Iraq, said that the situation was being “closely monitored” in Brussels, but the main part of her report to MEPs was on relations with the six Gulf oil kingdoms, indicating the desire to move beyond trade relations to multiple cooperation, including on renewable energy. An initiative on setting up a network of interlocutors in renewable energy was under consideration, she said. The cooperation sought would, she said, cover all areas, including human rights. She expressed cautious optimism over the resumption of talks on a free trade agreement that have been stalled for almost three years, hoping for the oft-announced finalisation of negotiations. Human rights issues and, especially, the imposition of export taxes by the GCC countries divide the two parties. A further round of talks is being considered for the start of 2010. The EU wants “more ambitious relations and a diversified approach”, which would go beyond trade to energy, security and inter-university cooperation, and which might include international relations, particularly to encourage peace efforts in the Middle East. (F.B./transl.rt)