BRUSSELS: The European Union seeks to enhance relations with Saudi Arabia and other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano, told a news conference in Brussels Thursday. "The European Union, Saudi Arabia, and all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council share the interest to develop this relation, our cooperation," he emphasized. Stano recalled the EU's strategy on GCC, which was unveiled a few months ago, adding, "Where we clearly state that we want to enhance this partnership with all the countries of the Gulf because that is something mutually beneficial for us and for people in these countries."

"So this is one of the objectives of the EU and we want to engage further both with the GCC and its member states including Saudi Arabia," he underlined. The EU wants to enhance the relationship we have with Saudi Arabia in a number of fields not least in the field of energy and Green transition, he said. The EU spokesperson said this is something that has been discussed during the visit by EU High Representative Josep Borrell to Riyadh a few months ago and reinforced by the visit of the Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to Brussels not so long ago.

He said that the EU is also discussing human rights issues with Saudi Arabia, adding that this year the 27-member bloc launched the first human Rights Dialogue with Saudi Arabia and all the related issues. With reference to Saudi Arabia 'a crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Paris today, Stano said "the visit by representatives of third countries in the EU member state is something which is a natural part for our relations, in enhancing relations, reviewing relations advancing the relations." The six-member GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. - KUNA