Relations between EU & Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries

Analiżi fil-Fond 25-10-2010

Relations between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have failed to materialize into a deep partnership. After twenty years of talks, the FTA is still not concluded. Although the GCC would benefit most from trade liberalization with the EU, its reluctance to commit to economic reforms reinforcing openness and transparency prevents the negotiations to come to an end. At the same time, France, Germany and UK relations with GCC countries are relatively more developed with high levels of weaponry supply and support on security grounds, albeit non comparable to the American involvement in the region.