Summary: 11 April 2008, Brussels - Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, will make an official visit to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar between 14 and 16 April to explore the scope of further engagement with the region. During her meetings, the Commissioner will discuss areas of common interest such as the relations between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the situation in the broader region and how to support mutual understanding, and closer cooperation in areas such as education, environment and research. Strengthening energy cooperation between the EU and Gulf countries will also be high on the agenda.
Before her trip, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "The importance of the Gulf region for the EU is evident in all areas including economic and trade relations and of course also foreign policy and energy. The fields of common interests are growing constantly. It is time for us to be more ambitious about our relations, to the advantage of our countries and citizens".
On energy, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: "Energy security is at the top of the EU foreign policy agenda. The role of the Gulf region for the EU in security of energy supplies is obvious. We have a mutual interest in developing our energy partnership. The EU is a huge market for hydrocarbon electricity and renewable energy from the Gulf."
On 14 and 15 April in Riyadh, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will be in Saudi Arabia where she will meet H.M. King Abdullah, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, H. H. Saud Al Faisal, Petroleum, Ali Al Naimi, and Water and Electricity, Abdullah Al-Hussain. Regional relations will be in the centre of talks with the Secretary General of the GCC, Abdulrahman Al Attiyah. Furthermore, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will meet representatives of the National Society for
Human Rights and participate in the opening of an Information Day on the EU's 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development: on 15 April in Riyadh.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will pay an official visit to Bahrain on 15 and 16 Aprilwhere she will meet Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs, Nezar Al-Baharna, and Oil and Gas Affairs, Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza.
On 16 April, Benita Ferrero-Walnder will visit Qatar, which currently holds the Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council. There she will hold meetings with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Abdullah Al-Attiyah and with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani..
EU-GCC relations
The European Community has a region-to-region relationship with the GCC countries, channelled through a Cooperation Agreement which entered in to force in 1989. The Agreement aims at broadening economic and technical cooperation and also cooperation in energy, industry, trade and services, agriculture, fisheries, investment, science, technology and environment. It establishes regular annual EU-GCC meetings at ministerial and senior officials' level. Such EU-GCC meetings are held annually at
alternating locations. The next meeting is scheduled for 26 May 2008 in Brussels.
Working groups exist in the fields of energy and environment/climate change. Negotiations for the establishment of a Free Trade Area between the GCC and the EU have taken place at an accelerated pace during 2007. The two parties have expressed their shared commitment to seeing them rapidly concluded.
For more information on the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council relations
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/gr/index.htm
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