October 6, 2010'EU, GCC have potentials to play vital global role'
The 27-member European Union (EU) and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) need to deepen their dialogue to consolidate the foundations of a strategic relationship between the two regions for the sake of global peace and security, GCC's amabasador to the EU, Amal Al-Hamad, said here Tuesday night.
Speaking at the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, she stressed that the two regional blocs "have all the potentials to combine their efforts and play important role as strategic partners to face global and international challenges." Al-Hamad referred to the progress in EU-GCC relations from the signing of the Cooperation Agreement in 1988 to the adoption of the Joint Action Programme by the EU-GCC Ministerial meeting in Luxembourg last June.
"All these joint efforts emphasize clearly our common interest in enhancing our relations while sharing common concerns," she said adding however that "more needs to be done on the ground to take the relationship to a higher level." The GCC's top diplomat in Brussels pinpointed four strategic areas crucial to develop EU-GCC cooperation: energy, investments, trade and regional security.
"The EU needs to support the vital role that the GCC plays in global issues due to its strategic location in the region," noted Al-Hamad.
After her speech, members of the Delegation posed a number of question on issues such as common currency in the GCC, the Free Trade Agreement, energy policies, GGC role in Middle East Peace Process, Yemen and women's role.
Al-Hamad urged the European Parliament to pressure Israel to stop its settlements, end its violence in Gaza and come to the negotiating table.
Kuna News Agency
