Latest news with #StrategicPartnershipAgreements
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
EU launches talks with GCC countries for bilateral strategic agreements
BRUSSELS — The European Commission and the High Representative have welcomed the European Council's decision to authorize the opening of bilateral negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman — with the aim of concluding Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). The proposed SPAs are designed to establish modern, ambitious, and comprehensive frameworks for cooperation, tailored to the EU's shared priorities with each GCC partner. The move follows the 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and builds on momentum from the October 2024 EU–GCC Summit in Brussels. The agreements are set to cover a broad range of sectors, including foreign policy, security, justice, trade and investment, climate and energy, digital transformation, education, culture, and enhanced people-to-people engagement. Brussels described the SPAs as a strategic shift in EU-Gulf relations, positioning them to address mutual challenges and unlock shared opportunities across the rapidly evolving Middle East region. Negotiations are expected to begin soon, with the order and pace determined by each GCC country's level of interest. The EU emphasized that these new SPAs will complement existing regional and bilateral cooperation frameworks, including Free Trade Agreement talks already underway. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Leaders
a day ago
- Business
- Leaders
GCC, EU to Start Talks on Strategic Partnership Agreements
The European Commission and the High Representative have welcomed the European Council's decision that authorizes the launch of negotiations with each of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – aimed at reaching bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). According to a statement released by the European Commission, the SPAs aim to pave the way for an ambitious, comprehensive and effective framework for bilateral cooperation, designed to meet the shared priorities and objectives of the EU and each respective GCC country. The initiative aligns with the efforts of the EU to strengthen relations with GCC countries, in line with the 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and the October 2024 GCC-EU Summit in Brussels. The SPAs underscore the EU's commitment to boosting engagement and consolidating partnerships with the GCC countries, building on the existing GCC–EU cooperation frameworks, including ongoing regional and bilateral negotiations on Free Trade Agreements. The negotiation frameworks cover a broad range of topics, including foreign policy, security, justice and law enforcement, trade and investment, energy and climate, digital transformation, environment, connectivity, education, research and innovation, culture, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges. The EU views the SPAs as a turning point in its ties with the GCC countries, which enable them to address common challenges, and leverage joint opportunities across the Middle East. Negotiations will start soon, with the order and pace determined according to the GCC partner country's interest. On this occasion, the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, said: 'There is huge untapped potential in the EU's relationship with the Gulf region.' She added that the SPAs will bring many mutual benefits across a wide range of priority areas. 'We are beginning a new era of enhanced EU-Gulf cooperation,' she said. Short link : Post Views: 73
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
EU launches talks with GCC countries for bilateral strategic agreements
BRUSSELS — The European Commission and the High Representative have welcomed the European Council's decision to authorize the opening of bilateral negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman — with the aim of concluding Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). The proposed SPAs are designed to establish modern, ambitious, and comprehensive frameworks for cooperation, tailored to the EU's shared priorities with each GCC partner. The move follows the 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and builds on momentum from the October 2024 EU–GCC Summit in Brussels. The agreements are set to cover a broad range of sectors, including foreign policy, security, justice, trade and investment, climate and energy, digital transformation, education, culture, and enhanced people-to-people engagement. Brussels described the SPAs as a strategic shift in EU-Gulf relations, positioning them to address mutual challenges and unlock shared opportunities across the rapidly evolving Middle East region. Negotiations are expected to begin soon, with the order and pace determined by each GCC country's level of EU emphasized that these new SPAs will complement existing regional and bilateral cooperation frameworks, including Free Trade Agreement talks already underway. — SG
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
EU agrees to start talks with Gulf nations on strategic ties
European Union member states approved the launch of negotiations with six Gulf countries as the bloc seeks to broaden its international partnerships, Bloomberg reported. European affairs ministers gave the green light to the opening of talks aimed at concluding bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements with Gulf Cooperation Council countries, during a meeting in Brussels on Friday. Negotiations are expected to begin as soon as possible and to address a broad spectrum of issues, including security and energy, as the EU is stepping up efforts to diversify relationships. 'Through the Strategic Partnership Agreements, we aim to take our cooperation to the next level,' European Commissioner for Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica told Bloomberg. WAM
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
European Commission welcomes adoption of EU mandate to launch negotiations with GCC countries
19 July 2025 00:56 BRUSSELS (WAM)The European Commission and the High Representative welcomed the European Council's decision authorising them to enter into negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - ith the aim of concluding bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs).The aim of the SPAs is to provide for an ambitious, modern, comprehensive and effective framework for bilateral cooperation tailored to the shared priorities and objectives of the EU and each respective GCC is in line with the efforts to enhance our relations with GCC partners set out in the 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and the October 2024 EU–GCC Summit in negotiation frameworks cover a wide range of topics, including foreign and security policy, justice and law enforcement, trade and investment, energy and climate, digital transformation, environment, connectivity, education, research and innovation, culture, and enhanced people-to-people SPAs will mark a turning point in the relations with Gulf partners, being truly strategic partnerships, addressing common challenges and harnessing joint opportunities across the rapidly evolving Middle East will start as soon as possible. The order and pace of negotiations will follow the expression of interest from the side of the partners.''There is huge untapped potential in the EU's relationship with the Gulf region. As of today, we will negotiate bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements with the six Gulf partners. These should bring many mutual benefits across a wide range of priority areas, from increasing economic diversification to jointly tackling security challenges, and working together on digitalisation and connectivity. "We are beginning a new era of enhanced EU-Gulf cooperation," said Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European to Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, the Strategic Partnership Agreements with the GCC countries will provide a major boost to our trade and investment relations, creating new opportunities for businesses, enhancing market access, and promoting economic growth. We can unlock the full potential of our economic partnership and strengthen our position as a global trading Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean said: ''Our partnership with the GCC partners is built on mutual respect and shared objectives. Through the Strategic Partnership Agreements, we aim to take our cooperation to the next level. We are deepening and widening our bilateral relations in a wide array of areas putting always people at the center. "These partnerships will also allow for strengthening our cooperation at regional level to build peace and promote stability and prosperity in the broader Middle East.''
