Speaker participates in meeting between GCC parliamentary leaders, European Parliament President
Manama, June 23 (BNA): Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division, participated in the meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council parliamentary leaders with Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, held in Abu Dhabi.
The Speaker emphasised that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is committed to strengthening the close ties between the GCC and the European Union and to advancing cooperation across all domains in support of shared interests.
Al Musallam said that advancing parliamentary dialogue between the GCC and the European Parliament would help develop more effective ties and promote greater mutual understanding. He noted that this is essential for advancing partnerships in legislative, political, and security cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and supporting joint projects in areas such as digitalisation and sustainable supply chains. He also highlighted the need for an effective and balanced free trade agreement between the GCC and the EU.
He added that the GCC has demonstrated its ability to achieve progress in economic development, regional security, global stability, and promoting values such as tolerance, coexistence, human rights, and the empowerment of women and youth. He underlined that these values align with those of the European Union, opening new opportunities for cooperation.
Al Musallam referred to the first GCC-EU summit held in Brussels in October last year as a historic milestone that laid the foundation for deeper dialogue and partnership.
He noted that the current meeting builds on the summit’s achievements and provides an opportunity to enhance parliamentary cooperation and address shared challenges.
Al Musallam expressed hope that the joint parliamentary meeting would mark a new stage in GCC-European parliamentary work, especially given the long history of cooperation and shared strategic interests between the two regions.
He also pointed out that the meeting comes at a critical time for the Middle East, emphasising the need for urgent international action to protect civilians, end the suffering of the Palestinian people, ensure a ceasefire in Gaza, and provide humanitarian aid, with the aim of achieving a lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
Al Musallam noted that recent Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran have increased the risk of wider conflict, threatening regional stability, international security, and the global economy. He urged the international community to act quickly to halt the escalating tensions and prevent further military escalation.
He emphasised the importance of returning to dialogue and diplomatic solutions, based on respect for state sovereignty and international law, and underlined that further military escalation would only lead to more instability and destruction.
The Bahrain parliamentary delegation to the meeting included MP Ahmed Sabah Al Salloom, Ejlal Isa Bubshait, member of the Shura Council; and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the Council of Representatives and Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division.
