On 9 and 10 October 2023, the Ambassador-at-Large for global and multilateral affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andrejs Pildegovičs, headed the Latvian delegation at the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in Muscat, Oman. High-level delegations from the EU and the states of the Persian Gulf were represented at the event.
During the meeting, the head of the Latvian delegation met with officials from Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait to discuss bilateral cooperation with those countries, global security issues, as well as opportunities for closer cooperation and support in international organisations, including the UN. Both the EU-GCC meeting and bilateral talks addressed the security situation in the Middle East following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, and views were also exchanged on support for Ukraine and international efforts to stop the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The agenda of the Council meeting also included the topics of climate change, preparations for 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28), and humanitarian cooperation. In conclusion, a joint EU-GCC statement was signed, setting out not only the region’s current affairs but also concerns over the aggression against Ukraine.
Background information
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is a regional, intergovernmental organisation comprising six states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC was established in 1981. Its Secretariat General is located in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
1988 saw the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council. A Joint Cooperation Programme for 2022–2027 was endorsed in February 2022. The EU is funding various projects in the region to promote dialogue and cooperation in the areas of strategic interest for both sides. The Gulf region is the EU’s sixth largest export market and an important source of investment. The EU is the second largest trading partner for the Gulf States.
Photo and video: EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial meeting (europa.eu)