Saudi Shura Council Speaker Leads Delegation at Gulf-EU Summit in Brussels
For Saudi Arabia, participation reflects the Kingdom's engagement with European institutions and its role in promoting cooperation between Gulf countries and international partners.
Saudi Arabia participated in the second Gulf-European Parliamentary Summit in Brussels, Belgium, as legislative leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Parliament gathered to strengthen strategic cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue on regional and global challenges.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi delegation was led by Shura Council Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh.
The summit brought together speakers of Gulf legislative councils, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and members of the European Parliament to explore opportunities for closer institutional cooperation between the Gulf states and the European Union.
In her opening address, Metsola welcomed the Gulf legislative leaders and emphasised the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and GCC member states.
She highlighted the role of inter-parliamentary engagement in deepening political dialogue, bringing perspectives closer together and expanding cooperation on shared priorities.
The discussions focused on developing mechanisms to strengthen Gulf-European parliamentary relations, establishing regular channels of dialogue and facilitating the exchange of legislative expertise.
Participants also explored ways to coordinate parliamentary diplomacy on pressing regional and international issues, with an emphasis on sustainable development, mutual prosperity and shared strategic interests.
Why the Gulf-European Parliamentary Summit Matters
The summit is significant because it strengthens engagement between the GCC and the European Union beyond traditional government-to-government diplomacy, creating additional opportunities for dialogue between legislative institutions.
For Saudi Arabia, participation reflects the Kingdom’s engagement with European institutions and its role in promoting cooperation between Gulf countries and international partners.
The EU and GCC share important interests in regional security, economic cooperation, energy, investment and international stability. Stronger parliamentary engagement can complement existing diplomatic relations by providing another platform for discussing these priorities.
The summit also offers Gulf legislative councils and European lawmakers an opportunity to exchange experiences, improve institutional understanding and develop more consistent channels of communication.
At a time when regional and international developments are placing increasing pressure on diplomatic relationships, regular engagement between European and Gulf parliamentary institutions can help maintain dialogue and support cooperation on matters of mutual concern.
The second summit in Brussels therefore represents another step towards strengthening the institutional dimension of EU-GCC relations, with Saudi Arabia participating alongside its Gulf partners in efforts to deepen cooperation with Europe.
