Brussels:Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Division, led a meeting involving speakers and representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) legislative councils. The gathering also included the GCC Secretary General and Dr. Mohammed Ali Behzad, Bahrain's Ambassador to Belgium.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting took place in preparation for an upcoming summit between GCC legislative leaders and the European Parliament, set to occur at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels on Friday.
Speaker Al Musallam emphasized Bahrain's dedication to fostering parliamentary collaboration and synchronizing the positions of Gulf legislative bodies across various forums, reflecting the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He praised the joint achievements of GCC actions supported by Gulf states' leaders and reiterated Bahrain's commitment to advancing integration and development across sectors for the benefit of the Gulf peoples.
The meeting's agenda featured an address by the GCC Secretary General, a briefing on GCC-European relations, and discussions on mutual interests. Key topics included economic and trade partnerships, Gulf security, maritime navigation freedom, and European security. Participants exchanged views on these themes and coordinated positions for the summit.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the draft joint statement and discussed ways to ensure that Gulf priorities are reflected in the summit outcomes. It focused on strengthening GCC-European parliamentary cooperation and enhancing communication among Gulf legislative bodies on shared initiatives. The discussions also covered strategic partnerships through open trade, regional security, and the implications of the Russian war on Ukraine.
The Parliamentary Division delegation, led by Speaker Al Musallam, includes MP Ahmed Sabah Al Saloom, Sabeeka Khalifa Al Fadhala, MP Hassan Ibrahim Hassan, and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain.