Brussels, 17/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the secretariat of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) have decided to step up the pace of their negotiation on a free trade agreement in the hope of concluding them by the end of the year. This deadline was set in April and was reconfirmed at the latest round last week in Brussels and also at a meeting between the European ambassadors to Riyadh and the secretary of the GCC, at his initiative. Mr Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah underlined the "strategic scope" of relations between the EU and the GCC, which will be consolidated by the conclusion of a free trade agreement, although he insisted on the need to ensure that the internal reforms wanted by the EU are not imposed, and that they correspond to the Arab and Muslim specificities of the Gulf countries. The next round of negotiations is due to take place in Brussels shortly before the summer.