Milan, May 8 (SANA) The Doha Forum and the Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), in partnership with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and the Center for International Policy Research (CIPR), convened a joint EU-GCC initiative on Friday at Palazzo Clerici in Milan under the title “Bridging Stability: EU-GCC Cooperation in an Era of Fragmentation” to discuss the region’s most pressing challenges and avenues for strengthening cooperation between the two blocs.
According to the Qatari News Agency QNA, the initiative brought together officials and experts from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council for wide-ranging discussions on escalating regional instability, particularly the repercussions of the American-Israeli war on Iran and its impact on regional stability, global energy markets, and economic security. Participants also examined how to shape coordinated post-war responses amid the region’s rapidly shifting dynamics, with discussions centering on opportunities to deepen EU-GCC cooperation in security, crisis management, energy resilience, and trade.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, speaking during the initiative’s plenary session, said the Arab Gulf represents a stable partner for Europe in security and energy, underscoring the depth of shared interests between the two sides and the need for sustained joint cooperation.
EU Special Representative for the Gulf region Luigi Di Maio stressed that security in the Gulf and in Europe are inseparably linked, saying work is ongoing to consolidate the partnership between both sides.
The 24th edition of the Doha Forum is scheduled for December 5 and 6, 2026, in Doha, under the theme “Redefining Global Trust” bringing together world leaders to advance dialogue on cooperation, responsibility, and trust-building amid a rapidly transforming international landscape.
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