EU and Gulf countries agree to deepen cooperation

In their first-ever summit in Brussels on Wednesday 16 October, the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) outlined a vision for closer cooperation. For Finland, it was important that the joint statement issued at the summit condemn Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

The joint statement demands that Russia withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine immediately. It also condemns the attacks on Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure and pledges to support the path to a just and lasting peace. In addition to the war in Ukraine, the summit also addressed other regional conflicts.
 
“It is important that we strengthen our dialogue and coordination on security issues. This is especially true when it comes to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and challenges in the Gulf and Red Sea regions,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who represented Finland at the summit.
 
Finland has also stressed the importance of forging strategic partnerships between the EU and the GCC, as well as between the EU and individual GCC Member States. Partnerships lead to stronger economic, trade and investment relations.
 
Along with issues of peace and security, the EU and the GCC agreed to deepen cooperation in a variety of other areas, such as trade, investment and economic cooperation, energy and climate change mitigation, and development and humanitarian aid. 

The Gulf Cooperation Council consists of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The EU and the Gulf countries account for 20 per cent of the global economy.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768; Elisa Tarkiainen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 50 433 4533, and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office