The Gulf region
The Gulf is a dynamic region and an important gateway between Europe, Asia and Africa. Its security, stability and prosperity bear direct consequences for Europe.
Bilateral relations
The promising societal and economic changes underway in the Gulf countries, based on ambitious transformative agendas (‘Visions’), and their further development, offer a wide range of opportunities for cooperation and investment. The EU stands much to gain from stronger cooperation with the Gulf as new developments emerged that inspired stronger cooperation with the Gulf region such as the need for seeking energy security, seizing trade and investment opportunities, addressing climate change, common security challenges and alignment of positions in multilateral fora. More recently, the conflict between Israel and Hamas and destabilizing activities in the Red Sea has demonstrated the major role of many of the Gulf countries in achieving sustainable peace and stability in the region but also beyond.
EU-Gulf relations are currently governed by the 1989 Cooperation Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provides the legal basis for institutional cooperation between the EU and the GCC. In addition, the EEAS signed bilateral Cooperation Arrangements with the respective Foreign Ministries of the 6 GCC Member States – Bahrain (2021), Kuwait (2016), Saudi Arabia (2021), Oman (2018), Qatar (2018) and the United Arab Emirates (2018).
Bilateral relations between the EU and the GCC and its members have advanced following the EU’s first ever Strategy for the region in 2022 (Joint Communication on a strategic partnership with the Gulf, endorsed with Council Conclusions). The Joint communication sets out a path for the EU to develop a closer, forward-looking partnership with the Gulf countries in several priority areas. These include increasing trade and investment, fighting climate change, ensuring energy security and a smooth green transition, enhancing cooperation on connectivity and digitalization, meeting growing global development and humanitarian needs and promoting peace and stability, including the de-escalation of tensions in the broader region.
The EU has therefore intensified its high-level engagement with its Gulf partners, among others by nominating the first EU Special Representative for the Gulf, Mr Luigi di Maio as of 1 June 2023. The EU bilateral cooperation and dialogue with the Gulf States includes Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) thematic working groups, Human Rights Dialogues (HRD) to enhance and improve cooperation on human rights issues and regular exchanges on regional and international developments at various levels.
The 6 GCC Member States
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a crucial interlocutor for the EU in the Gulf region and beyond, including in multilateral fora (G20). Relations are gaining strength with a good pace of visits and enhanced institutional engagement. The EU’s Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf (2022) opens additional avenues for strengthened cooperation. The EU Delegation in Riyadh is covering KSA and GCC, but also Oman and Bahrain.
Qatar is an important partner for the EU, playing a relevant and constructive role in the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful resolutions to numerous conflicts. Qatar is also an important partner for Europe to diversify gas supply in line with REPowerEU. In 2023 the EU opened a Delegation in Doha.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are an important partner for the EU in the region in several fields, notably trade and investment, economic diversification, energy, environment, climate change and security. The EU and the UAE have a joint interest in ensuring stability in the Middle Eastern region and beyond, and strengthen connectivity, including in the context of UAE normalisation of relations with Israel. Since 2016, the EU operates an EU Delegation in Abu Dhabi.
Kuwait has traditionally been a close partner of the EU on several files as it held the first Syria Conference and supported UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) financially. The EU facilitated Kuwaiti accession to the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) during its GCTF co-chairmanship.
Bahrain and the EU share a mutual interest for regional stability, security, and enhanced political and sectoral cooperation, with focus on sustainable development, green transition, education, people to people contacts. Bahrain is an important interlocutor for the EU in the context of its normalisation of relations with Israel. The EU continues to engage constructively with Bahrain on human rights, notably promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Over the years, the EU has forged constructive diplomatic ties with the Sultanate of Oman, key partner which plays an important role in the efforts to reduce tensions, de-escalate conflicts in the region. EU has a good cooperation with Oman regarding hydrogen production, as well as in maritime security.