Government of the Republic of Slovenia

04/22/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Minister Fajon at High-Level Forum with Gulf States on strategic security partnership

Following the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs met with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States at the High-Level Forum. In her address, Minister Fajon stressed the importance of security in the Persian Gulf and advocated joint strategic cooperation between the EU and the GCC Member States.
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Minister Fajon with GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi | Author MInistrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve

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EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs attending the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation Minister Tanja Fajon

The GCC Member States - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - together play an important role in the region and are increasingly engaging with the EU. At the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, EU Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from the GCC Member States discussed visa waivers and a cascade visa system, as well as negotiations on an EU-GCC free trade area.

The debate focused on the Middle East crisis, with Minister Tanja Fajon stressing that "The security of the Persian Gulf directly impacts Europe's security. It is imperative that we adopt a unified approach, foster ongoing dialogue and strengthen cooperation. Each GCC Member State has a pivotal role to play in achieving regional stability, particularly given the escalating tensions in the area." She affirmed Slovenia's commitment to advancing EU-GCC relations in terms of building a strategic security partnership that aims to ensure the security of maritime routes, facilitate trade between countries and collectively combat terrorism and extremism.

She reiterated Slovenia's call on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to prioritise de-escalation and exercise restraint in order to avoid the spiral of violence.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Fajon held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. Their discussion focused on shared interests between Slovenia and the Gulf countries, exploring potential areas for enhanced EU engagement with the GCC.