His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the informal meeting of leaders between the European Union (EU) and key regional partners.
The meeting was hosted by His Excellency Mr Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, and chaired by His Excellency Mr Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, with the attendance of several heads of state and leaders from Arab and European nations, today, Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia.
At the outset of his speech, His Excellency expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission for their kind invitation to participate in this significant meeting, which reflects the depth and strength of the relations between the two sides.
His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi stressed the importance of the strategic partnership between the GCC and the EU, underscoring the necessity of strengthening it to serve the interests of both sides and benefit their peoples, as well as contributing to regional and international stability.
"The current phase necessitates strengthening coordination and cooperation between the GCC and the EU by activating the mechanisms agreed upon within the framework of the existing partnership. The future of this relationship is promising—not only for the peoples of the GCC and Europe but for all nations globally that stand to benefit from this partnership," His Excellency highlighted.
His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi also addressed the strategic importance of the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the efforts made in cooperation with international partners to ensure the freedom and smooth flow of navigation in the Strait. He affirmed the GCC states' support for relevant international initiatives and expressed a desire for outcomes that contribute to keeping the Strait open for global trade.
In a related context, His Excellency underlined the importance of elevating cooperation in the field of energy supply security and working to develop alternative transport routes, including pipelines, rail links, and air connectivity. He further called for opening strategic connection channels between the two sides to enhance infrastructure integration and serve mutual interests.
Hs Excellency further emphasised that dialogue and negotiation represent the only path to de-escalation in the region. He expressed the GCC states' hope that Iran recognises the significance of abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons, warning that the acquisition of such weaponry would lead to regional instability and a dangerous arms race.
In this context, His Excellency asserted that any comprehensive solution with Iran must address its nuclear file, its ballistic missile programme, and the cessation of its regional proxies' activities. He also highlighted the potential repercussions of closing the Strait of Hormuz and its direct impact on European energy security and critical sectors, including the aviation industry.
Meanwhile, His Excellency reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause, emphasising the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.
He underscored the importance of supporting the Palestinian people’s sovereignty over all occupied territories and called for intensifying cooperation with regional and international powers to redouble efforts toward resolving the conflict.
Regarding Lebanese affairs, His Excellency praised the historic decision by the Lebanese government to ban the military activities of Hezbollah. He also commended the initiative of His Excellency the French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron, to host an international conference to support and reconstruct southern Lebanon, stressing the need to reach a comprehensive solution that ensures Lebanon's stability and prevents further escalation.
Concluding his remarks, His Excellency noted the anticipation for the second GCC-EU Summit to be held later this year. The summit will address several files of mutual interest, including the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Schengen visa waiver, digital transformation, logistics connectivity, clean energy, and investments, all aimed at enhancing the prospects of the strategic partnership between the two sides.
