President Connolly to attend European presidents meeting

On Thursday, the Speaker of the Shura Council in Qatar, HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, attended a GCC coordination meeting involving the heads of legislative councils from the Gulf Cooperation Council states. This gathering aimed to align positions on various topics to be discussed with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who was set to meet with the GCC representatives at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance the strategic partnership between the GCC and the European Union, as well as to bolster parliamentary cooperation between the two entities. Discussions also centered around a range of regional and international issues of mutual concern, including deepening economic and trade ties, ensuring security and stability in the Gulf region, safeguarding freedom of maritime navigation, and addressing international developments that impact global peace and security.

The session was part of a broader effort to maintain ongoing parliamentary dialogue and cooperation between the GCC states and the European Union, focusing on issues of shared interest. Delegates also deliberated on the draft joint statement, anticipated outcomes of the upcoming meeting, and mechanisms to monitor progress and reinforce parliamentary coordination and collaboration.

Additionally, the GCC-European Parliamentary Committee convened on Thursday in Brussels, where they examined the agenda items for the meeting between the GCC's legislative council speakers and the European Parliament President. The committee deliberated on coordinating viewpoints and recommendations for the meeting's outcomes, as well as strategies to expand the committee's activities and amplify its role in facilitating joint parliamentary cooperation initiatives.