Brussels:Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division, alongside Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, co-chaired the second parliamentary meeting between the legislative bodies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the European Parliament.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting saw participation from GCC parliamentary speakers, representatives, and Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC. Al Musallam expressed that under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain views the strategic GCC-EU partnership as crucial for future investment, security, and sustainable development.
Al Musallam emphasized that GCC countries have historically acted as a link between East and West, describing the EU partnership as based on mutual respect and shared interests. He stressed the importance of cooperation in ensuring security, stability, and prosperity, warning against regional escalations caused by attacks from Iran and its proxies on GCC nations, which violate international law.
He highlighted the need for deepening GCC-EU cooperation in various domains and praised the EU's stance on Gulf security and condemnation of Iranian aggressions. Al Musallam urged the international community to enforce UN Security Council resolutions related to these issues.
He also underlined the potential benefits of a GCC-EU free trade agreement, which could enhance investment, connectivity, and cooperation in sectors such as clean energy and digital transformation. Al Musallam noted the global importance of Gulf security, particularly regarding navigation through strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and Bab al Mandab, stressing that threats to these routes could have significant global economic impacts.
The Parliamentary Division delegation led by Al Musallam included notable members such as MP Ahmed Sabah Al Saloom, Shura Council member Sabeeka Khalifa Al Fadhala, MP Hasan Ebrahim Hasan, and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain.