Shaikh Khalid expressed his confidence that the GCC – EU Ministerial meeting will strengthen the bilateral ties, and promotes regional security and stability as well. He also noted the realized unmistakable achievements in terms of strengthening trade and economic ties, through the signing of the 2013-2016 EU-GCC Joint Cooperation Programmes which has consolidated the economic and trade relations between the two sides. He added that the programme helped in opening new areas that meet the interest of the major two blocs in the world. He said, “The programme covers a myriad of areas including oil, energy, education, tourism, health, environment, and disaster management etc.
Shaikh Khalid urged the parties to strive harder to finalize signing the free trade agreement between the GCC and EU as soon as possible. The foreign ministers of the States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and European Union will hold the 23rd GCC-EU Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting in Manama on Sunday July, the 30th, 2013. In preparation for the 23rd Session of the Joint Council, key officials of both parties will convene coordination sessions ahead.