Brussels, 08/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - After a meeting on Tuesday in Brussels between the Secretary General of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al-Attyah and the European Commissioners Pascal and Lamy, and Chris Patten, the forthcoming opening of a Commission delegation in Riyadh was announced. It will not only cover relations with the GCC but also with Saudi Arabia, although it is not yet known whether it will also cover the five other capitals. This point is the subject of close discussion which has delayed the proposed delegation, the principle for which was adopted in March this year. Talks with Mr Lamy covered the negotiation of a second agreement geared to the prospect of mutual free trade. Negotiations have slowed down for now, more for "technical" reasons (mainly the departure of GCC negotiator Mr Al-Suraisari, who becomes a minister) than for questions of substance. Mr Lamy and Mr Al-Attyah are said to have envisaged resuming negotiations from September on.