Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met on Thursday with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in Brussels.
Albudaiwi expressed appreciation to the European Parliament for its supportive stance towards the GCC countries, reflecting its firm commitment to the principles of international law.
The meeting addressed regional and international developments, the repercussions of Iranian attacks on Gulf states, and the direct threat these attacks pose to the security and stability of the region, the safety of international maritime navigation, and global energy supplies.
Metsola reiterated the European Parliament's support for the GCC countries against the attacks.
The two sides reviewed the GCC’s proposal for a parliamentary cooperation mechanism involving GCC legislative councils and the European Parliament, aimed at enhancing consultation, coordination, legislative cooperation, and institutional capacity to strengthen relations.
Albudaiwi also met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the implications of the regional escalation, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation and a lasting diplomatic solution, in addition to the importance of involving the GCC countries in any negotiation process, as they are a key party and are affected by the developments.
The meeting reviewed key issues, including follow-up on the outcomes of the first GCC-EU summit held in October 2024 in Brussels.
Both sides also discussed enhancing GCC-EU relations and reviewed progress on the Joint Work Program (2022-2027).
In his meetings on Thursday, Albudaiwi called on the European Union to play a more effective diplomatic role in mediating the conflict with Iran.
He stressed that GCC states base their international partnerships on national and strategic interests, maintaining balanced relations with Washington, Brussels, Beijing, and Moscow without aligning with any single bloc.
