The forthcoming EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit (Brussels, 16 October) will highlight “the strategic level of cooperation (...), which we are keen to deepen in all spheres”, stressed a European source on Saturday 31 August, following a trip to the region by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
To prepare for the summit, he met the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Secretary General of the GCC.
“The summit will send a strong signal to citizens and stakeholders in both regions of the leaders’ determination to develop relations in many areas of common interest”, according to this European source. It is expected to cover areas of cooperation such as the fight against climate change, energy, connectivity, transport and infrastructure, technological developments, particularly in the digital field, trade and investment, people-to-people initiatives, as well as geopolitical challenges, including the Middle East, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)