On Sunday 23 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called for a solution to be found as quickly as possible to the crisis in the Gulf between Qatar on the one side, and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on the other.
"The current situation should be resolved through dialogue and without delay", the European External Action Service stated in a press release while Mogherini was in Kuwait. "She called on all the parties to enter into negotiations to agree clear principles and a roadmap for a swift resolution of the crisis", the EEAS added.
In Mogherini's view, "the longer this crisis lasts, the more damaging it will be not only for the Gulf Cooperation Council but also for the stability of our common neighbourhood". "The EU would be ready to support the process of negotiation and assist in the implementation of a plan for the resolution of the crisis, in particular in the area of counter terrorism", she added.
Mogherini also paid tribute to the relentless mediation efforts undertaken by Kuwait to find a solution to the crisis in the Gulf, and she reiterated the EU's continued support to Kuwait in this endeavour.
Mogherini took advantage of her trip to discuss the regional situation, especially involving Syria and Iraq. She also discussed the EU's bilateral relations with Kuwait. She and Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah discussed how Kuwait could be supported in its Vision 2035 through focused work on economic cooperation and energy as well as on enhancing cooperation and coordination of the EU and Kuwait's development and humanitarian aid. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)