Speaker highlights Bahrain's comprehensive development in European Parliament

Brussels, May 16 (BNA): The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) hosted Speaker Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal in its meeting. The speaker highlighted the comprehensive development in Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and focused on the latest strides forward in human rights. She stressed that the meetings between the Council of Representatives and the European Parliament reflect the relations between Bahrain and the European Union countries, and a continuous endeavor to develop cooperation in all fields. Zainal said that Bahrain, under the leadership of HM the King and its people's compassion, tolerance, coexistence and national efforts is undergoing comprehensive modernization in the administrative, developmental, economic, political, cultural, social programs. She indicated that the comprehensive development started with the reign of HM the King, in which he inaugurated the National Action Charter through a committee in which men and women from all sections of the Bahraini society had participated. The Charter was approved by 98.4% of the Bahraini people, making it the most prominent manifestations of popular partnership in creating an advanced democratic reality. The speaker touched on the national efforts made during the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure the provision of all preventive and curative services. Such efforts made Bahrain a model of commitment to human rights principles and the pursuit of sustainable development goals. She stressed the Kingdom's current joint action and the appropriate conditions to enhance cooperation, especially sustainable partnership in the economic, political and cultural fields. Zainal highlighted Bahrain's 30-year-old economic cooperation agreement with the European Union that facilitated political and economic relations in energy, industry, trade, services, agriculture, fish production, investment, science and technology. She stressed the need for more work and the use of parliamentary diplomacy to enhance cooperation in all fields. Several European Parliament members affirmed that Bahrain is an important partner of the European Union, and that the European Parliamentarians are interested in hearing the Bahraini Parliament's viewpoints on security and political issues related to global developments. They noted that the Council of Representatives proposals related to human rights represent an important topic, stressing their follow-up to the efforts made by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister in seeking advanced steps in building a democratic, pluralistic and stable society. The European Parliament members touched on Bahrain's proactive steps in the Gulf and the Arab world, including the free and direct election of the first women as Speaker of the Council of Representatives. They stressed that women should be heard in politics, considering that Bahrain a model in this regard. The members noted that the visits by European Parliament members to Bahrain have strengthened the Bahraini-EU relations and called for further developing them.