JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL A strategic partnership with the Gulf
Date: 2022-05-18
Institutions: European Commission, European External Action Service
Subjects: GCC countries, Gulf Cooperation Council, cooperation policy, development aid, human rights, humanitarian aid, rule of law

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 18.5.2022  JOIN(2022) 13 final  JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL A strategic partnership with the Gulf  
 
 
1. Introduction 

The Gulf is a dynamic neighbouring region and an important gateway between Europe, Asia 
and Africa. The security and stability situation of the Gulf region bears direct consequences for 
the EU. Likewise, the EU has a lot to offer to the Gulf partners, as the world’s biggest single 
market,  trading  bloc  and  investor,  a  leader  in  research  and  innovation,  and  an  important 
mediator  and  promoter  of  multilateralism,  democracy  and  social  transformation  including 
human rights and gender equality.  

At a time of insecurity and significant challenges to the rules-based international order both in 
Europe  and  in  the  Gulf  region,  and  as  the  world  faces  the  consequences  of  the  Russian 
aggression against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent imperative of the green 
and  digital  transition,  the  European  Union  stands  much  to  gain  from  a  stronger  and  more 
strategic partnership with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and its member states.1  

Increasing trade and investment, fighting climate change, ensuring  global health and energy 
security and a smooth green transition, meeting growing global development and humanitarian 
needs and promoting peace and stability and de-escalation of tensions in the broader region are 
all issues of strong mutual interest. A strategic partnership between the EU and the GCC and 
its Member States will increase the prosperity and security of both partners and make a real 
difference in meeting global challenges. Such a partnership will build on the traditional strong 
links that already exist between individual GCC and EU Member States. Involvement of other 
key Gulf countries in the partnership may also be considered as relations develop and mature.   

A stronger partnership with the Gulf region has a key role to play in the implementation of the 
European strategy to REPowerEU2 and the complementing EU External Energy Strategy.3 This 
includes such important topics such as an increase of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplies, 
measures  to  stabilise  oil  markets,  cooperation  on  hydrogen,  energy  efficiency  and  faster 
deployment of renewable energy.  

Recent developments in the Gulf are encouraging. The end to the rift within the GCC in 2021 
has facilitated the resumption and expansion of EU-GCC cooperation. The promising societal 
and  economic  changes  underway  in  the  GCC  countries,  based  on  ambitious  transformative 
agendas  (‘Visions’),  and  their  further  development,  offer  a  wide  range  of  opportunities  for 
cooperation and investment. Moreover, a positive conclusion of the Vienna negotiations aimed 
at facilitating a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by the United States 
and resumption of full implementation of all JCPOA commitments by the United States and 
Iran could provide a platform for further efforts to reduce tensions and build confidence in the 
wider region.    
Given the wealth of developments since the 1989 EU-GCC Cooperation agreement,4 and the 
need for much stronger and more comprehensive cooperation, the EU is determined to partner 
with the Gulf region and revitalise cooperation through a robust strategic partnership and solid 
bilateral institutional frameworks.  

1 Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Kuwait, State of Qatar, Sultanate of Oman, United 
Arab Emirates. 
2 Communication from the Commission, REPowerEU: Joint European Action for more affordable, secure and 
sustainable energy, COM (2022)108, 8.3.2022. 
3 Joint Communication on EU external energy engagement in a changing world, JOIN (2022) 23, 18.5.2022. 
4   https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A21989A0225%2801%29 

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This Joint Communication5 therefore proposes a stronger partnership in a series of key policy 
areas and sets out a number of concrete proposals for the EU and the GCC and its Member 
States to strengthen their co-operation in their mutual interest, with a clear focus on delivering 
results. 

2. A partnership for prosperity 

Together the EU and the GCC represent 20% of the global economy, 17.5% of global trade, 
and cover more than half of global foreign direct investments. In 2020, the EU was the GCC’s 
largest  import  and  fourth-largest  export  partner  (with  proportions  of  17.8%  and  6.9%, 
respectively).6 A privileged trade and investment relationship between the EU and the GCC 
and  its  members  is  of  strong  mutual  interest,  increasingly  important  and  has  clear  further 
potential. This is even more relevant in a fast changing geopolitical context where the EU must 
build  alliances  and  platforms  of  cooperation  to  pursue  its  objectives  and  enhance  its  open 
strategic autonomy. Further to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU will actively 
work  towards  building  stronger  ties  with  the  GCC  to  seek  alternative  sources  of  energy, 
including renewable energy. 

Building on the 1989 Cooperation Agreement, the EU and GCC were engaged in negotiations 
on a Free Trade Agreement, which came to a halt in 2008, mainly due to different levels of 
ambition on key points. Since then, the EU framework for free trade agreements has further 
developed  and  currently  includes  ambitious  provisions  on  sustainable  development,  labour 
rights, the phasing out of export duties and other measures that distort trade and investments. 
Expert level discussions continue to further improve mutual understanding of the positions, in 
view  of  possible  negotiations  for  a  trade  agreement,  which  would  address  issues  of  mutual 
interest,  including  an  enhanced  trade  and  investment  environment,  regulatory  and  customs 
cooperation  as  well  as  sustainable  development  objectives.  In  the  meantime,  the  EU  will 
explore ways to deepen the economic partnership and to strengthen the existing EU-GCC Trade 
and Investment Dialogue to further facilitate regulatory cooperation, increase the protection of 
intellectual  property  rights  including  geographical  indications,  further  strengthen  the 
cooperation on customs and anti-fraud matters, including the fight against counterfeiting and 
smuggling, support renewable energy, energy  and resource  efficiency  and digital  trade, and 
promote sustainable and global supply chains. The EU and GCC will coordinate positions on 
multilateral trade policy agendas, including within the World Trade Organization on its reform. 
The  EU  will  also  seek  to  strengthen  EU-GCC  cooperation  on  economic  integration  and 
sustainable business and investment environment with well-functioning and fair markets where 
enterprises can compete on their merits on a level playing field and addressing unfair trading 
practices or subsidies that distort competition.  Moreover, the EU will consolidate economic 
bilateral partnerships with each GCC country, complementary to the existing EU-GCC trade 
and investment partnership. 

This would also contribute to economic diversification, in which the Gulf countries have a 
strong interest. They have adopted strategic ‘Visions’7 that aim to diversify their economies, 
shifting away from dependency on oil and gas revenues. They are also focused on developing 

5   It  is  also  informed  by  outcomes  of  targeted  consultation  events  and  feedback  provided  during  a  call  for 

evidence process (between 3 February and 3 March 2022). 

6   The EU’s imports consisted mainly of fuel and mining products as well as chemicals, while exports consisted 

of machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and agriculture and raw materials. 

7   Qatar’s ‘National Vision 2030’; Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035’; Oman’s ‘Vision 2040’; Bahrain’s ‘Economic Vision 

2030’ and Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’. 

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other sectors and a robust private sector that can generate jobs, growth and foreign investments, 
and on addressing job market distortions by generating employment for their own nationals. 
The EU and its Member States could share best practices with the GCC countries on how to 
stimulate a conducive business environment for small and medium sized enterprises in sectors 
such as digitalisation, energy, the green economy and sustainable tourism, and on supporting 
the alignment of study curricula and developing and supporting an entrepreneurial culture. The 
EU will continue working with the GCC to further improve business cooperation by removing 
outstanding  market  access  barriers  and  supporting  fair,  transparent  and  non-discriminatory 
investment-inducing  policies.  To  achieve  these  objectives,  the  EU  intends  to  support  the 
creation of an EU Chamber of Commerce in the GCC countries.8 

The  economic  transformation  that  is  currently  underway  in  both  regions  presents  an 
opportunity to reflect on how to best tackle our respective labour market shortages and ensure 
our  economies  have  the  skills  they  need  to  grow  and  innovate,  focusing  on  youth  mobility 
between the EU and the GCC countries.9  

Gulf  countries  are  important  partners  in  the  collective  efforts  to  tackle  the  impact  of  the 
COVID-19  pandemic,  global  health  security  and  in  the  international  initiatives  to 
improve pandemic preparedness and response. Joint efforts will be important to continue 
improving public health delivery and ensure a robust global framework that increases resilience 
and response capacity for future health crisis. Further work on linking the Gulf countries to the 
EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate  system  and  on  recognising  vaccinations  would  support  safe 
international travel and contribute to the global recovery. The EU will also engage with them 
on long-term recovery instruments and the NextGenerationEU, and seek their support for its 
diversified funding strategy that includes the issuance of medium-term and long-term bonds. 
The EU will also enhance and strengthen cooperative efforts in the fields of preparedness and 
response to public health threats. 

In the field of transport, the EU will seek to continue improving aviation cooperation with the 
Gulf countries and common efforts towards more regulatory cooperation and convergence, and 
sharing best practices and standards in fields such as aviation safety and security, air traffic 
management, social and environmental standards in aviation, and air passenger rights. The EU 
also  supports  regional  aviation  cooperation between Gulf countries.  Reinvigorated EU-Gulf 
cooperation10 on railways could cover the use of the EU rail signalling and traffic management 
system, research and innovation, zero-emission technologies and regulatory models and best 
practices.11 On infrastructure, the EU will explore cooperation with Gulf countries, including 
in relation to the ongoing discussions on a future Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network in 
the Southern Neighbourhood, aiming to promote stronger connections with adjacent strategic 
corridors in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia. 

The  EU  will  continue  its  dialogue  with  the  region  on  shipping  and  aim  to  strengthen 
cooperation especially on maritime safety, environmental protection and maritime transport 
interconnections.  The  EU  will  continue  working  with  Gulf  countries  at  the  International 

8   Through the Economic Diversification project, which is managed by the Commission and designed to increase 

dialogue on economic diversification, market access conditions and sustainable structural change. 

9 The Commission presented recently the Communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU COM (2022) 
657 final, 27.04.2022. 
10   Building on the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding between the GCC Secretariat and the EU Agency for 

Railways. 

11   This could include the EU’s own experience with setting up the ERA, in light of the ongoing discussions on 

creating a railway agency in the Gulf region. 

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Maritime Organization to ensure a high level of safety and environmental standards and more 
ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.  

The  EU  is  determined  to  tackle  the  challenges  and  maximise  the  opportunities  offered  by 
digitalisation and to engage with the GCC, including on digital transition, connectivity and 
innovation.  Through the  Global  Gateway strategy12, the EU will support the deployment  of 
digital networks and infrastructures in underserved regions of the world, ensuring they are safe, 
resilient  and  trustworthy  and  protect  people’s  integrity,  notably  by  promoting  the  EU  5G 
toolbox. The EU will support the increase of secure international connectivity notably between 
Europe and the Gulf and will engage in discussions on supporting a human-centric approach 
to digitalisation, including respect for universal values. This may in turn open up possibilities 
for further cooperation on the data economy, high performance computing, or a human centric 
approach to artificial intelligence. A starting point for strengthening the data economy could 
be to explore mutual interest in cooperation on industrial data spaces. The EU and the GCC 
can work together to further support the digital up-skilling of people in the GCC countries, in 
particular women and young people, so they can benefit from the opportunities of the digital 
transition. The mutual interest in cooperating on the EU concept of digital innovation hubs can 
be explored. The EU will also support exchanges with Gulf countries on EU data protection 
policies and practices to promote further convergence with EU and international standards.  

EU cooperation with the GCC countries on research and innovation will create new markets 
and jobs, contribute to economic diversification and the economic recovery in the region and 
address  societal  challenges  like  the  climate  and  energy  transitions  and  global  health  issues. 
This cooperation will be based on the EU’s new strategy13, which will also inform and guide 
international cooperation under the Horizon Europe framework programme.14 It will promote 
openness, balanced with greater levels of reciprocity, and will seek a level-playing field based 
on  respect  for  fundamental  principles  such  as  academic  freedom,  gender  equality,  ethics, 
integrity and inclusiveness of research, open science and evidence-based policy-making. 

The EU aims to strengthen cooperation with the GCC on space issues. GCC countries have 
become more active in this field and have expressed interest in the joint development of space-
based  augmentation  for  GPS  and  Galileo  to  cover  the  Gulf  region.  This  will  allow  safety-
critical applications to make use of GPS and Galileo for high precision approaches to airports, 
reducing the need for ground infrastructure.15 EU-GCC cooperation could also address the use 
of Earth-observation data provided by the EU’s Copernicus system for applications such as 
pollution monitoring or water vapour measurements. 

Action points: 

  Strengthen  EU-GCC  cooperation  on  trade  and  investment  in  general,  including  on 
economic integration and diversification, and notably the existing EU-GCC Trade and 
Investment Dialogue. This would include exploring possibilities of reaching a common 

12   Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, 
the  Committee of the Regions and the European  Investment Bank on the Global Gateway, JOIN(2021) 30 
final,  1.12.2021.  Through  the  EU  Global  Gateway  the  EU  plans  for  major  investments  in  infrastructure 
development  around  the  world,  with  a  focus  on  the  green  and  digital  transitions,  including  in  the  energy, 
transport, health, education and research sectors. 

13   Global approach to research and innovation – Europe's strategy for international cooperation in a changing 

world – Council conclusions adopted on 28 September 2021, 12301/21. 

14   The Horizon Europe framework programme (2021-2027) will continue to promote international collaboration 
between  researchers  and  businesses  in  the  EU  and  the  rest  of  the  world,  similarly  to  previous  framework 
programmes for research and innovation. 

15   One option for such a system involves extending the existing EU EGNOS system, which would require several 

monitoring stations to be sited locally. 

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understanding  on  possible  negotiations  for  a  trade  agreement,  which  would  address 
issues  of  mutual  interest,  including  an  enhanced  trade  and  investment  environment, 
regulatory and customs cooperation as well as sustainable development objectives. 

  Organise exchanges on youth employment and business creation.  

  Pursue common efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular on recognition 

of certificates and vaccinations. 

  Enhance and strengthen cooperative efforts in the fields of preparedness and response 
to public health threats and work towards an improved global health architecture to 
counter health crises.  

 

Improve  cooperation  on  transport  issues,  including  regulatory  aspects,  safety,  traffic 
management, interconnections and social and environmental standards.  

  Further cooperate on  the development  of  a  human-centric approach to  digitalisation, 
including in terms of connectivity, infrastructure development, digital transition, digital 
skills and data protection. 

 

Improve  awareness  of  research  and  innovation  cooperation  opportunities  and 
institutional training opportunities, including under the Horizon Europe programme. 

  Strengthen cooperation on space issues. 

3. A partnership for a green transition and sustainable energy security 

Given  the  magnitude  of  climate  change  challenges  and  the  opportunities  that  the  green 
transition can offer, joining forces is paramount for the EU and the Gulf region. Achieving the 
overriding  goals  of the  UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,  the Paris  Agreement  and the 
Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  are  key  shared  priorities.  While  Gulf  countries  are 
emerging players on the international stage in addressing the fight against climate change, by 
which the Gulf region is particularly affected, the EU can share expertise and know-how in 
related fields as a pioneer on climate change initiatives. At the same time, Gulf partners are 
reliable Liquefied Natural Gas providers and have a considerable role and further potential in 
the context of overall sustainable energy security and a smooth transition to net-zero. However, 
being the world’s biggest producer of fossil fuels, Gulf countries will have to take bold steps 
to  shift  away  from  this  economic  model  in  the  longer  term,  becoming  not  only  significant 
exporters but also major investors in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the broader 
Middle East region and financial supporters of global climate related efforts. At the same time, 
the  EU  is  interested  in  alternative  energy  sources  and  will  increasingly  need  considerable 
imports of renewable energy from diversified sources by developing an environment conducive 
to undistorted trade and investments in green energy goods. Therefore, there is an overriding 
common interest in engaging more strategically, speeding up the green transition and the move 
to circular economies, address the respective trade interests of both regions, and successfully 
meeting  climate-related  commitments.  This  is  also  reflected  in  the  EU  External  Energy 
Strategy. 

The recent net-zero announcements by Gulf partners are important steps forward in filling 
the  climate  change  mitigation  gap  and  keeping  the  Paris  1.5C  goal  in  sight,  if  these  are 
accompanied  by  equally  ambitious  long-term  low  greenhouse  gas  emissions  development 
strategies. Implementation of the pledges and announcements made and phasing out subsidised 
fossil fuel energy must now be the priority. Methane emissions reduction is another area of 

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potential EU-Gulf cooperation that could contribute to achieving a gradual phase out of fossil 
natural gas towards biogas and biomethane, renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and synthetic 
fuels16.   

The  EU  will  also  step  up  its  cooperation  with  Gulf  countries  on  climate  action  and  clean 
energy transition by facilitating exchanges and partnerships on renewable energy (including 
renewable hydrogen), energy efficiency including the Energy Efficiency First principle, carbon 
capture utilisation and storage, carbon pricing and carbon markets, climate change adaptation, 
disaster  risk  reduction  and  resilience.  This  cooperation  will  also  explore  best  practices, 
technology options, innovation, regulatory frameworks and standards.17 The EU will further 
pursue the active involvement of and support for the International Renewable Energy Agency 
(IRENA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which could provide a useful avenue for work 
on clean energy transitions. The EU will engage with the Gulf countries and notably the UAE, 
on preparations for COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE as well as with frameworks such 
as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.  

The green transition and climate adaptation and mitigation will require large-scale investments 
globally. The Global Gateway provides a useful framework for a joint venture with the Gulf to 
foster sustainable investments in the broader Middle East region, as well as in Africa. It could 
be instrumental in bringing together the investment capabilities of the EU and Gulf countries 
and their financial institutions and effectively engage the private sector to unlock the necessary 
capital, expertise and experience.  

EU-GCC  cooperation  can  play  an  important  role  in  aligning  finance  flows  with  a  pathway 
towards low  greenhouse gas  emissions  and climate-resilient development,  especially  with  a 
view to the post-2025 goal on climate finance. The EU and Gulf countries will strengthen their 
cooperation  by  exchanging  on  sustainable  finance  initiatives  and  green  bonds  issuances, 
including with European, Gulf-based and multilateral development financial institutions, and 
in  the context  of discussions in  the relevant  international  fora.  The EU thus encourages the 
participation of Gulf countries in the International Platform on Sustainable Finance. 

EU-GCC partnership will be also essential in the context of global and regional sustainable 
energy  security  and  smooth  green  transition  as  reflected  in  the  EU’s  External  Energy 
Strategy published in parallel with this Communication. Endowed with some of the best 
solar and wind resources in the world, GCC countries have a considerable potential to lead the 
transition towards sustainability and decarbonisation, including by enhancing energy efficiency 
and applying the Energy Efficiency First principle. EU-Gulf cooperation will focus on know-
how, technology, regulatory frameworks, standards and investments, among other issues. The 
Gulf  countries  can  contribute  to  limiting  the  volatility  of  markets  impacted  by  the  energy 
transition  not  least  through  increased  exports  of  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  as  an  alternative  to 
pipeline gas. 

However,  the  Gulf  region  can  also  play  a  role  as  a  producer  and  supplier  of  decarbonised 
energy,  including  renewable  hydrogen  and  electricity.  The  Communication  REPowerEU 
underlines the need to replace gas by higher levels of renewable energy including hydrogen. 
This, combined with the Gulf partners’ aspirations to become lead exporters, will bring new 
avenues for EU-GCC cooperation. The EU will explore opportunities for production and trade 

16   Most of the Gulf countries have signed the  EU/US led Methane Pledge, some energy companies from the 

region are part of the Oil and Gas Methane Initiative 2.0, led by the UN and EU. 

17   The EU-GCC Clean Energy Network project played an important role in promoting EU-GCC cooperation on 
clean energy policies and technologies, with the new follow-up project being broader, going beyond energy 
cooperation and to cover the green transition as a whole. 

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to enable the undistorted imports of renewable hydrogen in particular, building upon existing 
projects, notably in the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean region.  

An  integrated  gas  and  hydrogen  infrastructure,  hydrogen  storage  facilities  and  port 
infrastructure is necessary in both the EU and the Gulf countries. The EU is already working 
on  a  Mediterranean  Green  Hydrogen  Partnership,  and  will  explore  with  Gulf  countries 
opportunities for concluding Green Hydrogen Partnerships. The EU will also promote a closer 
cooperation on electric connectivity and sustainable transport connections. Opportunities will 
be also pursued for triangular cooperation on clean and just energy transition, in particular 
with  Africa,  Asia  and  the  broader  Middle  East.  The  EU  will  promote  regional  energy 
integration and cooperation.18  

The  EU  and  Gulf  countries  could  also  work  together  further  on  environment  issues.  The 
conservation  and  sustainable  use  and  management  of  the  seas,  marine  resources  and  water 
management,  including  water-energy  nexus,  and  the  need  to  address  marine  pollution  in 
particular in densely urbanised coastal areas are areas of shared interest. Given the volume of 
shipping from the Gulf across the Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean, the EU will explore further 
cooperation  on  reducing  emission  levels  from  maritime  transport.  Opportunities  for 
cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture, desalination, and coastal tourism could be also further 
explored. 

Further EU-GCC exchanges on the global biodiversity framework for action should also take 
place, leading to an expansion of the current marine protected areas in the Gulf. Other aspects 
that could be covered include addressing all drivers of biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, 
developing  and implementing strategies  against invasive species  and working together with 
other sectors, such as transport and industry. 

The EU will share expertise with Gulf countries on circular economy, such as measures for 
waste reduction and sustainable waste management and on recycling, and will work closely 
with them on a legally-binding instrument to end plastic pollution.   

The EU will also work together with the Gulf countries to build fair, sustainable, healthy and 
environmentally friendly food systems - in line with the EU’s Farm to  Fork Strategy,19 the 
Communication on Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems20, 
aiming to enhance global food security. This is of particular importance in light of the impact 
of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its consequences on global food markets. The 
EU and the Gulf countries will also further cooperate with the aim to combat desertification 
and deforestation, as well as on developing arid climate agri-technology. 

The  partnership  with  the  Gulf  in  these  fields  will  focus  on  bilateral  and  regional  levels. 
Frameworks  like  the  Saudi  and  the  Middle  East  Green  Initiatives  could  offer  an  important 
avenue for dialogue. The EU will also promote triangular cooperation, of which the Israel-
Jordan-UAE desalination-electricity project is a good example. 

Action points: 

  Set up a dedicated EU-GCC energy and climate expert group to intensify policy dialogue 

on green transition at regional and bilateral level. 

18   The Egypt-Saudi Arabia electricity interconnection project is a good example of this. 
19 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381 
20 https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/food-farming-fisheries/key_policies/documents/safeguarding-food-
security-reinforcing-resilience-food-systems.pdf 

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  Hold an annual EU-GCC Ministerial meeting on the green transition, complemented by a 
related private sector initiatives (e.g. Green Business Forum), to identify further tangible 
joint initiatives. 

  Further  facilitate  regulatory  cooperation  and  infrastructure  interconnections,  support 
renewable  energy  development  and  energy  efficiency  and  production  and  promote  the 
creation  of  competitive  markets  enabling  trade  in  renewable  energy  without  export 
restrictions or price distortions. 

  Develop engagement on sustainable finance, including in partnership with European and 

Gulf-based financial institutions. 

  Set up a dedicated facility allowing expertise to be exchanged on the policy areas relating 
to  the  green  transition,  the  circular  economy  and  sustainable  growth  models  and  help 
operationalise EU-GCC cooperation on green transition. 

  Hold a high-level seminar on the green transition looking ahead to COP27 and COP28. 

  Launch  a  marine  protection  initiative  around  the  Arabian  Peninsula  aiming  to  create 
protected areas and joint mechanisms to prevent the pollution of the marine environment 
and improve marine science cooperation and disaster relief/risk reduction. 

4. A partnership for regional stability and global security 

Preserving peace, security and stability in the wider Gulf region is a key priority for the EU, 
and an important shared interest with the GCC and its Member States and other international 
and  regional  partners.  Instability  in  the  wider  Gulf  region  has  a  direct  bearing  on  the  EU’s 
security and economic interests, and reverberates not only in the EU’s neighbourhood but also 
in other areas of common interest such as the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. With Gulf states 
increasingly active in their own region and in the broader Middle East and beyond, it is clear 
that lasting stability in the EU’s broader neighbourhood  will require close cooperation with 
them.  

There  have  been  positive  steps  taken  by  the  Gulf  countries  recently,  such  as  the  Al  Ula 
Agreement marking an end to the ‘GCC rift’, the normalisation agreements with Israel and the 
steps  of  some  GCC  Member  States  to  resume  or  deepen  dialogue  with  Iran.  These 
developments offer an opportunity for the Gulf countries to improve wider regional stability 
based on respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law and on 
an  agreed  set  of  shared  interests  as  well  as  universal  principles  and  values,  such  as  good 
neighbourly relations, non-interference in domestic affairs, peaceful resolution of disputes and 
non-proliferation, and through building progressively a regional security architecture. It would 
also offer a useful platform for engaging on broader societal issues and economic integration. 
The EU, as a successful peace project itself, can be a valuable partner in supporting these goals.  

The  EU  coordinates  efforts  to  ensure  the  full  and  effective  implementation  of  the  JCPOA, 
which  can  contribute  to  comprehensive  and  lasting  efforts  to  ensure  that  the  Gulf  region 
remains  permanently  free  of  nuclear  weapons  and  in  itself  can  help  address  other  regional 
issues. A positive conclusion of the Vienna negotiations aimed at facilitating a return to the 
JCPOA by the United States and resumption of full implementation of all JCPOA commitments 
by the United States and Iran could provide a platform for further efforts to reduce tensions 
and build confidence in the wider region. Of course, the countries of the region - on both sides 
of  the  Gulf  –  should  lead  and  guide  such  efforts,  but  the  EU  and  the  wider  international 
community can and should offer support and advice. In this context, the EU will be ready to 
engage with  the GCC, its Member States, with  Iran and other key states in  the region, in  a 

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gradual  and  inclusive  approach,  in  full  transparency  and  with  the  ultimate  objective  of 
developing arrangements which provide for greater security for all countries in the Gulf region.  

To this end, the EU could work on dialogue, transparency and confidence building measures 
and  share  expertise  in  fields  such  as  maritime  safety/security;  conflict  prevention  and 
mediation, disaster preparedness and response; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear 
(CBRN) safety; countering terrorism; cyber security and countering disinformation.  

In addition, a dedicated political-military dialogue with GCC and its Member States could 
facilitate  the  exchange  of  information  on  military  exercises,  policy  and  budgets,  voluntary 
measures to improve transparency in armaments, arms control arrangements in support of the 
Convention  on  Certain  Conventional  Weapons  and  the  Ottawa-Anti-Personnel  Mine  Ban 
Convention,  and  on  the  effective  implementation  of  non-proliferation  agreements.  This 
dialogue could be complemented by military-to-military contacts. 

These activities could in the medium and long-term lead to a structured EU-facilitated dialogue 
process that could gradually contribute to a more inclusive regional security architecture. The 
regional Baghdad Conference on Cooperation and Partnership, and its follow-up process with 
EU involvement, could serve as a useful example for region-led processes.  

Improved  cooperation  on  maritime  security,  on  the  basis  of  international  law,  could  help 
enhance  the  rules-based  order  at  sea,  including  freedom  of  navigation  and  overflight.  This 
could include de-confliction channels, sharing maritime information, incident prevention and 
codes of conduct21. EU Operation ATALANTA’s growing regional presence creates a space 
for such engagement. The EU could also explore additional cooperation through the European-
led  maritime  awareness  in  the  Strait  of  Hormuz  operation,  which  aims  to  support  a  safer 
navigation  environment  and  de-escalation.  An  EU-Coordinated  Maritime  Presence22  in  the 
North Western Indian Ocean, and the creation of the EU Maritime Area of Interest, in line with 
the  EU’s  Indo-Pacific  strategy23,  could  also  provide  a  wider  platform  for  this  work,  in 
coordination with international and regional partners. 

The  EU  and  the  GCC  could  exchange  good  practices  in  disaster  prevention  and 
preparedness,  in  particular  through  improved  cooperation  between  the  EU’s  Emergency 
Response  Coordination  Centre  and  the  GCC  Emergency  Management  Centre.  Where 
appropriate,  the  EU  will  also  propose  technical  exchanges  with  other  Gulf  countries,  the 
League of Arab States and the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction to 
contribute to regional cross-border capacity building. 

Given  the  increasing  role  played  by  nuclear  energy  in  the  GCC  countries,  the  EU  could 
envisage enhancing the collaboration on nuclear safety and nuclear emergency preparedness 
and response, including on public health consequences of intentional or unintentional CBRN 
threats. In particular, nuclear safety could benefit from dedicated technical support on key areas 
such  as  nuclear  safety  culture  or  accident  management,  whereas  nuclear  emergency 
preparedness  and  response  could  be  addressed  through  strengthening  the  emergency 
information  exchange  between  the  EU  and  the  GCC,  in  line  with  ongoing  projects  on  this 

21   Such  as  the  use  of  Indo-Pacific  regional  information  sharing  by  Gulf  partners  through  dedicated  capacity 
building initiatives  within the framework of the Djibouti Code of Conduct that  increases maritime domain 
awareness and communication. 

22   Council Conclusions on the Implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept in the North-

Western Indian Ocean – adopted on 14 February 2022, 6075/22. 

23   Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the  Council  ‘The EU strategy for cooperation in the 

Indo-Pacific’, 16.09.2021 

9 

 
 
                                                           
matter. Such lines of collaboration should take place between the EU and the GCC Emergency 
Management Centre, and could also eventually include other Gulf countries. 

Further  consolidation  between  regional  partners  and  the  EU  in  relation  to  CBRN,  CBRN 
medical  countermeasures  and  the  governance  of  CBRN  materials  could  be  explored.  In 
addition  to  its  current  focus  on  biological  preparedness,  chemical  safety  and  security,  and 
emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBRN Centre should propose regional 
activities on strategic export controls on dual-use goods. 

The EU and Gulf countries have already stepped up their coordination on regional crises in the 
broader Gulf, Middle East region and the North and Horn of Africa. Peace and stability in this 
wider  region  is  a  strong  shared  interest,  whether  in  Iraq,  Yemen,  Syria,  Libya,  Lebanon, 
Israel/Palestine  or  Somalia,  Ethiopia  or  Sudan.  The  EU  also  values  GCC  and  its  Member 
States’ important role in international mediation. Recent examples include the role played by 
Qatar with regard to Afghanistan and Chad, the KSA and UAE in the Horn of Africa, Kuwait 
on  Lebanon  and  Oman  in  Yemen.  The  EU  is  ready  to  propose  closer  cooperation  and  the 
sharing  of  methodologies,  experience  and  best  practices  on  conflict  prevention  and 
mediation, at both bilateral and regional level. 

Deepening counter-terrorism engagement with the Gulf countries can be envisaged on issues 
such  as  countering  violent  extremism  and  radicalisation,  financial  support  for  extremism, 
exportation of extremist literature, and terrorist threats from the region and beyond. The EU 
will  explore  avenues  for  stepping  up  its  support  for  exchanges  of  best  practice  to  counter 
extremist narratives and promote the productive use of traditional and social media, including 
closer collaboration with existing organisations24. Stronger cooperation could also include joint 
activities  to  increase  awareness  of  legal  and  institutional  frameworks  to  counter  terrorism 
financing and combat anti-money laundering. The EU will also continue to work with the Gulf 
countries  to  advance  and  promote  a  global,  open,  stable  and  secure  cyberspace  with  a 
particular focus on cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure against cyberattacks.  

The EU will also explore possibilities to improve judicial and law enforcement cooperation 
in order to better combat serious cross-border organised crime, particularly in relation to the 
fight  against  terrorism,  money  laundering  investigations,  asset  recovery  and  combatting 
trafficking  in  human  beings.  Exchange  of  best  practices  and  support  under  the  EU  Global 
Facility25 is being offered to assist international compliance in relation to combating money 
laundering  and  tackling  financing  for  terrorism,  notably  in  order  to  comply  with 
recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Cooperation could be stepped 
up with Eurojust, potentially through setting up contact points, and with the European Public 
Prosecutors Office. 

Both the EU and the Gulf regions have been affected by hybrid attacks, such as artificially 
induced migratory flows and terrorism, including terror attacks using drones and missiles. EU 
and  Gulf  countries  should  further  cooperate  to  tackle  such  challenges  effectively.  In  the 
perspective  of  addressing  such  hybrid  threats  the  EU  is  also  strengthening  its  strategic 
communication  to  detect,  analyse  and  address  foreign  information  manipulation  and 
interference  that may fuel regional tensions. The EU will work towards frameworks to support 
freedom  of  expression,  media  freedom  and  pluralism  which  are  at  the  core  of  healthy 
information environments, including by supporting societal resilience in the region and raising 

24   Such  as  Hedayah,  the  independent,  multilateral  ‘think  and  do’  tank  devoted  to  preventing  and  countering 

violent extremism based in Abu Dhabi (the EU is a member of its Steering Board). 

25   https://www.global-amlcft.eu/global-anti-money-laundering-and-countering-terrorism-financing-context/ 

10 

 
 
                                                           
awareness  of  the  increasing  use  of  foreign  information  manipulation  and  interference  as  a 
foreign policy tool. Implementing measures to counter disinformation and misinformation will 
remain a key aspect of this approach26. 

Action points: 

 

Initiate  and  further  strengthen  political  and  dedicated  dialogues  and  coordination  on 
issues pertaining to regional and global stability and security, including on increasing 
resilience and response against hybrid threats. 

  Propose the appointment of an EU Special Representative on Gulf security. 

  Develop a cooperation mechanism for enhanced maritime security, building on 

Operation ATALANTA, EMASoH and the Coordinated Maritime Presence in the 
North Western Indian Ocean. 

  Strengthen technical support in the area of nuclear safety, and promote collaboration in 
the area of nuclear emergency preparedness and response between  the EU and GCC 
EMC. 

  Step up EU-GCC cooperation on Countering Terrorism (CT) and Countering Violent 

Extremism (CEV) between the EU and the GCC and its member states.  

  Develop  mutually  beneficial  cooperation  on  disaster  preparedness  and  response 
between  the  EU  Emergency  Response  Coordination  Centre  (ERCC)  and  the  GCC 
Emergency Management Centre. 

 

Initiate a dialogue on cyber security. 

5. A global humanitarian and development partnership 

Gulf  donors  and  their  financial  institutions  are  major  providers  of  Official  Development 
Assistance  for  humanitarian  aid  and  development  cooperation,  and  their  aid  is  primarily 
bilateral.  Better,  more  systematic  engagement  with  Gulf  donors,  notably  regarding  delivery 
through  multilateral  agencies  and  a  burden-sharing  approach,  is  essential  to  address  global 
challenges  and  in  particular  the  unprecedented  challenges  to  the  international  humanitarian 
system.  These  include  the  widening  funding  gap  between  rapidly  growing  needs  and  the 
financial  resources  available,  increasing  disregard  for  International  Humanitarian  Law  and 
protracted conflict situations.27  

Gulf countries are substantial donors of humanitarian aid. The EU will step up its engagement 
with  the  Gulf  countries  on  funding,  efficiency,  quality  aid  and  overall  support  for  the 
international humanitarian system, as an integrated part of the EU-Gulf political dialogue. In 
this context, specific attention will be paid to countries facing protracted crises. The EU will 
also encourage Gulf donors to step up their engagement and multiannual funding towards the 
UN-coordinated  global  humanitarian  system  and  the  relevant  UN  agencies,  including  the 
United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which is key for the stability of the Middle East 
region. 

26    Building  on  the  joint  action  plan  against  disinformation  (5  December  2018),  the  European  democracy 
action   plan   (COM/2020/790)   and   the   experience   from   the   COVID-19   pandemic,   EU   strategic 
communications  efforts  will  be  rooted  in  European  values  and  principles.  

27   Acknowledging the existing challenges, the Communication on “EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, 
same principles” of 10 March 2021 and the subsequent Council Conclusions call for increased EU engagement 
with emerging donors, including Gulf countries. 

11 

 
 
                                                           
 
Gulf  countries  have  also  a  specific  role  to  play  in  terms  of  promoting  and  applying 
International Humanitarian Law in the region and beyond, given their geographical and/or 
cultural  proximity  and  influence  on  some  of  the  most  acute  crises.  The  EU  will  step  up its 
dialogue  and  advocacy  actions  with  Gulf  donors  to  promote  respect  for  International 
Humanitarian Law and humanitarian principles to facilitate access to and the effective delivery 
of  humanitarian  assistance  and  protection  of  civilians.  The  EU  encourages  Gulf  countries’ 
participation in relevant initiatives to develop humanitarian standards and guidelines for the 
transparent implementation of these guidelines, based on shared experiences of crises such as 
those  in  Yemen,  Syria,  Iraq,  Libya,  the  Sahel,  the  Horn  of  Africa,  the  Rohingyas,  and 
Afghanistan.  

The EU will also seek stronger partnerships with Gulf countries, Arab financial institutions and 
regional  bodies  including  the  Organisation  for  Islamic  Cooperation  (OIC),  to  tackle  the 
underlying  political  and  structural  drivers  of  conflicts,  and  to  better  link  political  dialogue, 
relief and longer-term development in a humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The EU 
will particularly explore the potential for joint integrated approaches to addressing fragility in 
the Middle East/North Africa region as well as in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, and Central 
Asia,  including  Afghanistan.  There  will  be  dedicated  exchanges  on  the  root  causes  of 
humanitarian  crises  in  multilateral  fora  such  as  the  Arab-OECD  Development  Assistance 
Committee (DAC) dialogue28 and with the Arab Coordination Group.  

As  regards  development  cooperation,  Gulf  partners  are  strongly  engaged  in  areas  such  as 
infrastructure, renewable energy, health, education, and recent contributions to the COVAX 
mechanism. This opens opportunities for potential partnerships in many areas. As a first step, 
increasing coordination work with Gulf donors and their financial institutions is taking place 
in partner countries of mutual concern and internationally. The construction of the Gaza central 
desalination plant is considered a flagship example of cooperation between the EU and its Arab 
partners. 

The  EU  will  further  step  up  policy  dialogue  and  donor  coordination  with  Gulf  donors  at 
multilateral level, notably within the OECD Arab-DAC dialogue on development. The EU 
will  push  to  reform  this  dialogue  to  make  it  more  effective,  building  on  the  Team  Europe 
approach,  better  aligning  procedures,  social  and  environmental  safeguards  and  aid 
effectiveness.   

In  addition,  the  EU  will  step  up  its  relations  with  regional  organisations  and  Gulf  financial 
institutions,  especially  the  Islamic  Development  Bank  and  the  Arab  Coordination  Group, 
engaging on priorities and programming exercises and encouraging partnerships with European 
finance  institutions.  The  EU  will  in  particular  explore  investment  opportunities  within  EU 
policies and initiatives such as REPowerEU, the European Green Deal and the Global Gateway.  

Under  Global  Gateway,  the  EU  and  Gulf  partners  could  explore  joint  initiatives  in  third 
countries  through  triangular  cooperation,  financial  support,  capacity  building  and  technical 
assistance.  Moreover,  the  Neighbourhood  Development  and  International  Cooperation 
Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe rapid response pillar offers opportunities to address joint 
foreign policy priorities through policy dialogue. 

Action points: 

  Organise an EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting on humanitarian assistance in 2023. 

  Promote the effective delivery of need-based humanitarian assistance and overall support 
for  the  international  humanitarian  system  and  promote  respect  for  International 

28   The next Arab-OECD DAC dialogue will be held in Brussels, for the first time, in 2022. 

12 

 
 
                                                           
Humanitarian  Law  and  humanitarian  principles.  Explore  synergies  in  humanitarian 
logistics operations and opportunities for parallel funding of UN led projects in crises of 
mutual interest. 

  Step  up  policy  dialogue  and  donor  coordination  with  Gulf  donors  at  multilateral  level, 

notably within the OECD Arab-DAC dialogue on development. 

  Identify  opportunities  for  cooperation  on  Global  Gateway  initiatives  and  promote  Gulf 
partners’ collaboration with EU institutions, Member States, financial institutions and the 
private sector, reflecting the Team Europe approach. 

6.  A partnership for people  

Ongoing  societal  and  economic  transformations  in  the  Gulf  region  offer  a  wealth  of 
opportunities  for  cooperation,  notably  to  support  the  ambitious  transformative  visions 
announced by the Gulf countries. Driven by economic diversification and the growing number 
of  increasingly  engaged  and  'globalised'  young  people,  Gulf  countries  are  implementing 
domestic  social  development  policies.  These  long-term  policies  are  often  accompanied  by 
social reforms, with the potential to mark a turning point in these societies, notably in relation 
to women’s rights, labour issues (e.g. dismantling the kefala system29 for migrant workers) and 
freedom of religion and interfaith dialogue. While human rights, democratisation and rule of 
law  related  challenges  remain,  the  EU  can  cooperate  with  the  GCC  in  accompanying  such 
reform efforts, building on bilateral human rights dialogues with GCC countries and facilitating 
people-to-people contacts, especially for young people, to deepen mutual understanding and 
promote trust between societies in both regions around successful cooperation activities. In this 
regard, the EU will share its experience in promoting inclusive dialogue with civil society.  

The EU is keen to support the work being done by the GCC countries, including through EU 
cooperation instruments, to strengthen respect for the rule of law and good governance, in 
order to support transparency, accountability and trust in the institutions. The EU can promote 
and  share  its  experience  of  inclusive  dialogue  with  civil  society  and  social  partners  in  the 
context of the implementation of the social aspects of the GCC countries’ national visions. 

In  particular,  the  EU  strongly  encourages  GCC  countries  to  live  up  to  their  international 
commitments on human rights, including to ratify relevant UN human right treaties, actively 
support  the  work  of  the UN  Human  Rights  Office  and  the  UN  Special  Procedures,  fully 
cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms and ratify and implement International Labour 
Organization conventions and recommendations. The EU will continue to defend and promote 
the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the importance of the protection of 
journalists and the independence of the media.  The EU stands ready to share best practices, 
provide  technical  assistance  and  offer  expertise  as  appropriate,  building  on  the  regular 
structured human rights and sectoral dialogues between the EU and the GCC countries, which 
have proven to be a constructive avenue for frank exchanges on human rights, including on 
individual cases of concern.  

The  EU  stands  by  the  principle  that  human  rights  apply  both  online  and  offline.  The  EU 
encourages  Gulf  countries  to  implement  legislation  and  safeguards  to  protect  people  from 
unlawful  or  unnecessary  surveillance  and  data  collection.  The  EU  has  exports  controls, 
notably in the dual-use area where civilian technologies have potential military or security uses. 
These  rules  contain  specific  provisions  to  ensure  that  traded  digital  technologies  are  used 
legitimately,  respecting  human  rights. The  EU  stands  ready  to  share  expertise  with  its  Gulf 

29   Sponsorship system which gives employers excessive powers over foreign employees. 

13 

 
 
                                                           
partners  as  well  as  to  address  jointly  the  need  for  the  introduction  and  implementation  of 
international legal standards pertaining to digital rights, at multilateral level. 

The EU intends also to strengthen its engagement to promote gender equality and women’s 
empowerment, in  close cooperation with  governments, civil  society,  the  private sector and 
other key stakeholders in the Gulf region. Improved partnerships in this area may in particular 
promote access for women and girls to education and training, health, and ensure they have 
equal  legal  capacity  and  access  to  justice.  Promotion  of  women’s  participation  and 
representation in employment, politics, governance and civic engagement, and prevention of 
and combating sexual and gender-based discrimination and violence, is a promising area of EU 
engagement.  The  EU  will  continue  to  encourage  a  safe  environment  that  empowers  civil 
society, girls and women’s rights organisations, human rights defenders, peace-builders and 
female journalists. 

Cooperation and inter-cultural and inter-faith exchanges can improve mutual understanding 
and  trust  and,  at  the  same  time,  are  vectors  of  tolerance  and  peaceful  coexistence.30  For 
instance,  the  Abrahamic  Family  House  in  Abu  Dhabi  is  an  applaudable  example  of  such 
exchanges in the GCC region. Also, the EU National Institutes for Culture, located in Saudi 
Arabia, Qatar and UAE, continue to promote activities in various fields such as fashion, film, 
music, architecture and design, and visual arts. The EU and GCC states also invested in the 
protection  of  cultural  heritage  in  recent  years,  which  offers  opportunities  for  intensified 
dialogue and joint actions.  

The  EU  can  further  support  cross-regional  ties  in  education,  vocational  training,  skills 
development and civic participation through the Erasmus+ programme. In 2021-2027, in the 
field of higher education, Erasmus+ will offer possibilities for partner institutions in the Gulf 
to  develop  curricula  such  as  teaching  modules  on  EU-related  matters,  via  the  Jean  Monnet 
actions.  Higher  education  institutions  from  the  region  will  also  be  able  to  join  academic 
consortia with the EU and other international partners, to deliver integrated Master’s degree 
programmes  via  the  Erasmus  Mundus  Joint  Masters.  In  addition,  the  International  Credit 
Mobility,  which  facilitates  short-term  exchanges  for  academic  students  and  staff,  and  the 
Erasmus Mundus Design Measures, which offer the opportunity to co-design a joint Master’s 
degree, are now also accessible to partner institutions in the Gulf region.  

In the framework of the  2022 European Year of Youth, the EU Delegations in the Gulf  are 
encouraging these kinds of mobility opportunities for the region’s young people in the fields 
of higher education and research. This will be complemented by activities by the Erasmus+ 
Students and Alumni associations, together with the possibility offered for Gulf countries to 
set up Erasmus+ national focal points.  

Joint promotional efforts can also improve EU-Gulf cooperation on research, for example by 
supporting  participation  by  researchers  from  the  Gulf  in  Marie  Sklodowska-Curie  actions, 
including international doctoral networks and staff exchanges.  

Consular protection is increasingly relevant given the rising number of EU citizens that reside 
in  or  travel  to  the  Gulf.  Better  cooperation  between  the  EU  and  its  Member  States  and 
authorities in  the Gulf could  build on the established arrangements31, including on consular 
crisis preparedness and responses. 

30   The EU-GCC enhanced political dialogue, cooperation and outreach project, an ongoing 3-year EU project, 

actively supporting cooperation, public diplomacy and awareness-raising activities in the GCC. 

31   Such as the arrangements made with the UAE and Qatar in the context of the EXPO 2020, the 2022 FIFA 
World Cup and the repatriation of EU citizens and people for whom the EU was responsible from Afghanistan. 

14 

 
 
                                                           
Many  citizens  of  GCC  countries  reside  or  own  property  in  the  EU  or  study  at  European 
universities. The EU  recognises the GCC countries’ strong interest in being included in the 
EU’s list of visa-free countries.32 The EU also sees as its own interest to promote people-to-
people contacts and travel between the EU and the GCC countries. The United Arab Emirates 
obtained visa free in 2015.33 A proposal for the exemption of the nationals of Qatar and Kuwait 
has been presented by the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament.34 For the 
remaining GCC countries, with a view to promoting the partnership between the two regions 
and  strengthening  the  already  dense  political,  economic,  research,  educational,  cultural  and 
societal  exchanges,  the  Commission  will  rapidly  engage  in  technical  discussions  to  ensure 
fulfilment  of  relevant  criteria  in  view  of  ultimately  achieving  visa  exemption  for  all  GCC 
countries35, a shared interest for the GCC and the EU. Meanwhile, the EU continues to work 
towards reducing the burden for visa applicants from GCC countries, via local adaptation of its 
visa rules and towards systematically issuing multiple-entry visas with a long validity (valid 
for  up  to  5  years)  for  travellers  who  do  not  present  any  specific  risks.36  The  proposal  on 
digitalising  the  procedure  for  issuing  Schengen  visas  will  make  the  visa  procedure  largely 
paperless and contactless, and thereby more timesaving and cost-efficient for applicants.37  

Action points: 

  Swift launch of technical discussions with the remaining visa required GCC countries 
on visa exemption. Facilitate the issuing of multiple-entry visas with a long validity.  

  Strengthen exchanges on migration and mobility notably for youth, culture, and sports 

to bring people together and make societies more cohesive. 

  Step up human rights dialogues with Gulf partners and follow up activities and promote 
inclusive dialogue with civil society. Particularly promote gender equality and women’s 
empowerment. 

  Develop  cooperation  on  inter-cultural  and  inter-faith  dialogue  to  foster  human 

fraternity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. 

32   Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 
listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders 
and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, OJ L 303, 28.11.2018, p. 39. 

33 Council Decision (EU) 2015/785 of 20 April 2015 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and 
provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates on the 
short-stay visa waiver, OJ L 125/1, 21.5.2015. 
34 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 
listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and 
those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, COM(2022) 189 final ,  27 April 2022 
35 The criteria for visa exemption include irregular immigration, public policy and security, economic benefit, in 
particular in terms of tourism and foreign trade, and the EU’s external relations with the relevant third countries, 
with explicit reference to considerations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as regional coherence 
and visa reciprocity (Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, cited above 
36   In line with the revised Visa Code. Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 20 June 2019 amending  Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community  Code on Visas (Visa 
Code), OJ L 188, 12.7.2019, p. 25. 

37  Proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  amending  Regulations  (EC)  No 
767/2008,  (EC)  No  810/2009  and  (EU)  2017/2226  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council,  Council 
Regulations  (EC)  No  1683/95,  (EC)  No  333/2002,  (EC)  No  693/2003  and  (EC)  No  694/2003  and  Convention 
implementing the Schengen Agreement, as regards the digitalisation of the visa procedure, COM/2022/658 final, 
27 April 2022.  

15 

 
 
                                                           
 

Improve  GCC-EU  cooperation  on  governance  on  issues  such  as  fighting  corruption, 
promoting transparency, and ensuring accountability. 

  Step  up  EU-GCC  cooperation  on  education,  vocational  training,  scientific  research, 
civic participation through the Erasmus+ programme and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie 
Actions. 

  Step up cultural and public diplomacy to raise awareness and make the EU more visible 

in the GCC countries to improve mutual understanding.  

7. A stronger institutional partnership 

Structured  cooperation  with  the  GCC  and  its  members  is  governed  by  the  Cooperation 
Agreement concluded in 1989, and bilateral Cooperation Arrangements between the European 
External Action Service and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the six GCC countries. This 
framework encompasses various formats for political and sectoral consultation and cooperation 
and exchanges  on regional developments  at  different  levels38. Human rights  dialogues have 
been launched with UAE, Bahrein, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. 

There is increased momentum and a strong mutual interest in ensuring EU-GCC relations have 
a more strategic focus and in strengthening the institutional arrangements for cooperation. The 
EU will build on the existing framework combining bilateral engagement with strengthened 
regional  partnership  and,  where  possible,  developing  flagship  actions.  In  this  vein,  the  EU 
could explore the possibility of a Summit with the GCC. 

The EU will increase the visibility and efficiency of EU action  by opening a Delegation in 
Qatar  in  2022.  The  EU  is  exploring  the  possibility  of  opening  a  Delegation  in  Oman  and 
nominating an EU Ambassador to the GCC mirroring the GCC representation to the EU.  

The EU intends to explore the possibility of negotiating Partnership Agreements with GCC 
countries, which would provide a more solid and comprehensive framework for institutional 
engagement.   

The  organisation  of  sectoral  ministerial  meetings  between  the  EU  and  GCC  on  issues  of 
mutual  interest,  such  as  trade  and  investments,  economic  diversification,  transport,  green 
transition  and  digitalisation,  will  improve  the  bi-regional  framework.  This  new  format  will 
complement existing arrangements such as the EU-GCC Joint Council and the EU-GCC troika 
meeting, organised in the margins of the UNGA. It will ensure the implementation of the new 
EU-GCC Joint action Plan adopted at the last EU-GCC ministerial on 21 February 2022. 

The  establishment  of  an  annual  EU-GCC  political  dialogue  would  help  address  the 
geopolitical  developments  that  affect  the  two  regions,  as  well  as  political  aspects  of 
cooperation, advocacy and conflict resolution. In this framework, the EU and Gulf countries 
could  also  promote  cross-regional  cooperation,  notably  with  the  Southern  Neighbourhood 
region, and engage with other regional organisations such as the League of Arab States, the 
Union for the Mediterranean and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. 

Additionally,  the  EU  will  pursue  cooperation  with  the  GCC  General  Secretariat  through 
workshops,  peer  exchanges  and  study  tours,  based  on  EU  institutional  and  organisational 

38   EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial meeting, co-chaired by the HR/VP and the GCC rotating presidency 
with participation by the EU and GCC Foreign Ministers; EU-GCC Joint Cooperation Committee, providing 
senior  officials  with  the  opportunity  to  discuss  the  way  forward  on  sectoral  cooperation;  EU-GCC  Troika 
ministerial  meeting  exchanging  views  on  regional  issues;  EU-GCC  Regional  Directors  meeting;  EU-GCC 
Trade and Investment Dialogue; EU-GCC macroeconomic dialogue. 

16 

 
 
                                                           
experience  in  areas  of interest  for the GCC  General  Secretariat, such as  policy making  and 
coordination and public diplomacy.  

Action points: 

  Further  strengthen  EU-GCC  institutional  engagement  by  holding  an  annual  EU-GCC 
political  dialogue,  annual  consultation  on  multilateral  issues  and  sectoral  ministerial 
meetings, starting with the green transition and coordination on humanitarian action. 

  Explore the possibility of negotiating bilateral partnership agreements with the six GCC 

Member States. 

  Step up institutional and organisational exchanges with the GCC General Secretariat. 

  Pursue the implementation of joint activities in relation to health, trade and investment, 
migration  and  mobility,  education  and  research,  energy,  energy  efficiency  and  climate 
change, digitalisation and disaster preparedness and response.  

8. Conclusion/The way forward 

The  EU  will  use  all  its  tools  and  instruments  to  ensure  the  efficient,  effective  and  swift 
implementation  of this  strategic partnership with  the Gulf.  Continuous and forward-looking 
dialogue between the EU and its Gulf partners will be mutually beneficial on all issues. The 
EU will emphasise ongoing work on the green transition, economic diversification and social 
reforms. The EU will pay particular attention to rule of law and human rights and in this context 
to designing actions focusing on the empowerment of women and young people. The EU will 
strengthen its cooperation with the Gulf countries, using all appropriate financial instruments, 
in  particular  the  Neighbourhood  Development  and  International  Cooperation  Instrument 
(NDICI)-Global  Europe,  and  will  engage  through  public  diplomacy  to  reinforce  mutual 
knowledge and understanding.  

The Commission and the High Representative invite the European Parliament and the Council 
to  endorse  the  approach  set  out  in  this  Joint  Communication  and  to  work  together  on 
implementing and reviewing its actions. 

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