Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A European statement issued by the Foreign and Security Policy Department in Brussels said: “Senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union met in Riyadh to attend the first regional security dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the European Union on January 24.”
The main sessions focused on security and regional developments, in addition to specific areas for increasing cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union.
The Security Dialogue allowed for comprehensive, open and constructive discussions on regional security. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, Yemen, the Red Sea, Iraq, Iran, the Sahel region, Somalia and Ukraine.
Participants discussed opportunities to increase cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber issues, nuclear non-proliferation, as well as disaster preparedness and emergency management.
This meeting was one of the main outcomes of the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Joint Council and the European Union, when the Ministers agreed to strengthen their cooperation.
The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Dr. Khaled Fahd Al-Khater, Director of Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Awaisheq, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Negotiations. and Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary-General for Peace, Security and Defense at the European External Action Service.
The regional security dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the European Union will continue on a regular basis, alternating in Riyadh and Brussels.