In her draft report presented to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday 4 September, MEP Hana Jalloul Muro (S&D, Spanish), responsible for an own-initiative report on EU-Saudi Arabia relations, expressed her support for strengthening these relations.
Ms Jalloul Muro “welcomes the potential for further EU-Saudi Arabia economic collaboration in the area of sustainable energy, critical raw materials, information technology, and entrepreneurship”, noting that economic cooperation is the cornerstone of the relationship.
Furthermore, “the EU is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of socio-economic reform and diversification”. The MEP welcomes the “ambitious“ ‘Vision 2030’ plans and calls on the country to reshape its energy landscape and move towards renewable energies and green hydrogen.
The MEP also recognises the opportunity for collaboration on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Initiative.
In addition, she reaffirms the EU’s determination to promote a “safe, mutually beneficial visa-free travel arrangement”.
Highlighting “the growing importance of Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic actor contributing to international stability”, citing Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, the Red Sea and Sudan, Ms Jalloul Muro is calling for closer cooperation on foreign and security policy.
Finally, she calls for closer cooperation on human rights.
Amendments are open until 9 September, and the report could be adopted in December.
See the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/ia6 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)