Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU Council President Charles Michel highlighted the upcoming GCC-EU Summit as a pivotal moment for building political momentum to strengthen the strategic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union.
Charles Michel noted that the October 16 summit in Brussels will be the foremost in history at the leaders’ level between the EU and the Gulf countries. He voiced confidence that the summit will elevate the partnership, particularly in economic growth, investment, and regional security.
How does Charles Michel view the significance of the summit?
During a press briefing held as part of his visit to Bahrain, Michel underlined that the summit presents an important opportunity to complete long-standing trade agreements. He was optimistic that the continued momentum could lead to meaningful progress in boosting economic ties between the two regions.
Michel stated that the upcoming summit is the result of extensive steps over the past two years to foster a spirit of collaboration at all levels. He emphasised the significance of advancing political dialogue and ensuring more significant involvement to achieve common goals. “This political momentum in October will serve as a historic occasion to renew our efforts in making significant progress in this field,” he said.
What role will the Gulf Cooperation Council play in the summit?
Michel hailed the Gulf’s role in promoting the summit’s agenda, citing the establishment of a European Chamber of Commerce as a practical action towards maximising cooperation between the EU and the GCC.
The GCC-EU Summit is anticipated to introduce a new era of more serious economic and political cooperation, with GCC playing a key function in shaping the future direction of this partnership. HE Michel’s visit to GCC is part of a regional tour aimed at spreading the groundwork for a successful summit. His meetings with GCC’s state officials have addressed both long-standing problems and emerging opportunities for collaboration.
