Building bridges, not walls key to EU-Saudi Arabia ties

Arab News

08-05-2025

https://arab.news/8u2kt
On May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made a groundbreaking proposal to place French and German coal and steel production under a shared authority. This vision became the foundation of the EU.
In 1945, few could have predicted that nations once bent on each other's destruction would come together to form such a strong economic and political union. Yet they did. What became known as the Schuman Declaration sought to make war 'not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.' In recognition of this extraordinary achievement, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.
The vision of a united Europe was forged from a conscious decision to base peace and security on cooperation, interdependence and shared institutions, with a strong commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law.
It is especially important to reflect on these origins today, as the world faces a growing number of threats and overlapping crises. At a time when international cooperation turns into global competition, the Schuman Declaration serves as a powerful reminder that peace is not a given — it must be continuously nurtured, defended and re-envisioned through cooperation.
Europe is adapting to this changing world. We are stepping up our security and defense capabilities. We are ensuring the competitiveness of our economy while staying the course of our green transition, alongside our digital transformation.
But no country or power can face today's challenges alone. This is why strengthening our partnerships with the Gulf region is a priority.
In October last year, we held the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Brussels, which marked a historic moment, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending. This historical event launched a new and more ambitious chapter in our cooperation. It was a clear signal that the EU and the GCC member states are forging a strategic partnership for the 21st century.
Against that backdrop, we are privileged to be Saudi Arabia's strategic partner as the Kingdom opens up to the world, having embarked on a spectacular social and economic transformation under the Vision 2030 program. This partnership grows stronger every day — solid, productive and expanding. We have found common ground across many sectors, including security, economic cooperation, energy, green transition, tourism, education, the arts and sports.
Over the past year, our bilateral relations have achieved significant milestones. An exceptional number of high-level visits and exchanges between the EU and Saudi Arabia further strengthened our ties.
We have common geopolitical interests. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing major crisis in Palestine and Israel frame the challenges of our shared future. The EU stands ready to play its full part in future peace talks on Ukraine and has welcomed the role played by Saudi Arabia to facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we have joined efforts to reinvigorate the political process toward a two-state solution and established the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-sponsored by Saudi Arabia, Norway and the EU. This significant step forward has led to the upcoming international conference in New York in June, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, to rally international support for concrete, coordinated efforts toward a just and lasting peace.
In the economic field, we have laid a strong foundation. With approximately 2,500 European companies now operating in the Kingdom, Europe is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner and its first direct foreign investor. But we want to go further, whether through free trade agreements, sectoral collaborations or expanded dialogue.
A year ago, we launched the European Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region. By creating a platform for companies, by companies, our goal has been to foster deeper and more robust economic partnerships. Since then, many joint projects have taken place under its umbrella, deepening our trade collaboration.
Another area in which we have witnessed progress is our security cooperation. Two editions of the EU-GCC Structured Security Dialogue focused on key areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, counterproliferation and counterterrorism. Moreover, through naval operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES, the EU contributes to safeguarding maritime security and ensuring the freedom of navigation in this region, from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
No country or power can face today's challenges alone. This is why strengthening our partnerships with the Gulf region is a priority.
Christophe Farnaud
Building for the long term means that culture is a priority. Higher education is key. Investing in young people is one of the most meaningful and forward-thinking ways to strengthen our ties. We are proud of the growing partnerships with Saudi universities, from King Saud University and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the University of Business and Technology in Jeddah.
I am pleased to see the increasing interest in the EU's Erasmus+ program, which is now open to Saudi students. I hope this will lead to even more exchanges and shared experiences across our campuses.
More broadly, our shared interest in more cultural exchanges is reflected by the continued success of two of our flagship initiatives, the EU Music Week and the EU Food Festival.
To deepen people-to-people exchanges, the EU-GCC Summit also confirmed the goal of a visa-free travel arrangement. The process is complex technically and politically. It will take time. In the meantime, the new rules introduced last year, enabling Saudi nationals to obtain multiple-entry short-stay visas valid for up to five years, are a meaningful step forward.
Our dynamic partnership makes us more resilient, stronger and better equipped to move forward. We have a lot more to do together, for peace and prosperity.