The historic EU-GCC summit took place in Brussels, Belgium, on October 16. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman)

EU-GCC Summit

On October 16, EU leaders and representatives of six GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman and Qatar attended a summit for the first time.

According to AFP news agency, discussions at the conference revolved around the escalating tensions between Israel and armed groups in Gaza and Lebanon, especially the risk of leading to a war across the region.

Speaking at the conference, President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of using all diplomatic measures to prevent the conflict from expanding, saying that it is necessary to mobilize all possible resources to prevent the dangerous escalation taking place in the Middle East.

Ms von der Leyen called for an “immediate ceasefire” in conflict zones. Meanwhile, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani – who currently holds the rotating presidency of the GCC – stressed the importance of finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, especially the Palestinian issue.

According to him, there needs to be a lasting and just solution for Palestine.

Besides the Middle East, the summit also discussed other crises - including the military conflict in Ukraine, challenges related to trade, energy and climate change.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also actively participated in the discussions, focusing on ways to promote economic cooperation and solutions to cope with climate change between the two regions.

For his part, President of the European Council Charles Michel stressed that geopolitical crises have caused serious humanitarian damage, and called on Europe and the Gulf region to take more drastic action to change the course of history.

Mr. Michel also commented that the future of Europe and the Gulf countries are closely linked.

One of the highlights of the conference was the theme of strengthening economic relations between the EU and the GCC. The EU is currently the second largest trading partner of the Gulf states, accounting for 16% of GCC imports, mainly equipment and means of transport.

The EU is also the GCC’s fourth-largest customer, accounting for 7.5% of the bloc’s exports, most of which are hydrocarbons. However, negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two sides have been stalled for decades.

At the conference, leaders agreed to promote trade and investment cooperation to promote sustainable development and minimize negative impacts from global crises.

EU Summit

On October 17-18, 27 leaders of EU member states will gather in Brussels for the bloc's Summit, amid a series of urgent international and regional issues posing challenges to the bloc, including the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the economy and migration.

Ukraine will be the main topic of the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to present a plan to end the conflict to EU leaders. European countries will also discuss a peace initiative, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

European Council President Michel expects member states to work together to find a unified solution to build a roadmap for peace and continue financial support for Ukraine. The EU has pledged to provide around 45 billion euros ($50 billion) by the end of 2024 to support Ukraine's military, budget and reconstruction needs.

The meeting will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, which has become increasingly serious as fighting and humanitarian problems in Gaza and Lebanon worsen. The European Council will call for an immediate ceasefire, prioritise the hostage situation and call on all parties to respect international law.

In addition, the European Council will reaffirm its strong support for the UN and call for the protection of its staff and humanitarian workers.

The economic issue will also be at the heart of the meeting, with the aim of boosting the EU’s competitiveness and economic resilience. Leaders will discuss implementing an ambitious competition agreement that was finalised at the April summit.

Immigration will be high on the agenda at the summit. As EU member states adjust their migration policies, many leaders have taken a tougher stance, reflecting the current political climate in Europe.

The summit will be a crucial test of EU unity. Leaders will have to find a balance between protecting borders and ensuring respect for humanitarian values, while working more effectively on migration and identifying measures to maintain security and stability in the region.