The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are starting a new phase of strategic partnership, with the security and prosperity of both regions becoming intertwined and interconnected, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
She said in her remarks at the opening of the first GCC-EU summit in Brussels that this historic meeting shows how both sides see one another as strategic partners working together to create a shared future.
She also emphasised how the Middle East situation and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have a significant impact on both regions, saying that economic growth is impossible without security.
In addition, she urged diplomatic attempts to “de-escalate the dangerous situation” in the Middle East, stressing the necessity of an instant truce in Gaza and Lebanon as well as the defence of civilian lives.
“Only diplomacy can create a sustainable path to security,” she said.
“The European Union is committed to promoting peace initiatives and realising a two-state solution,” she reaffirmed further.
In addition, she emphasised that without sustainable resources, the European Union and the GCC would not be able to fulfil their common goal of sustainable development.
The audience is reassured by this commitment to resource responsibility and that both parties are “committed partners in the green transition, with both of our economies making significant progress in diversifying energy sources.”
She also stated that “we can responsibly meet these demands with the support of the GCC, and advanced technologies to support clean technology.”
In creating what she called a “new era,” Ursula von der Leyen stressed the significance of the energy partnership.
She also highlighted the role that the energy partnership will play in ushering in a “new era.”
The audience is made to feel the weight of this collaboration by emphasising the energy partnership’s significance, which highlights the potential for the partnership to spur the growth of new markets for clean energy as the Gulf States begins a major energy transition.
“The Gulf region, which connects Europe, Asia, and Africa, can develop into a hub for this energy,” she concluded.