Europe Day 2025 in Kuwait
Europe Day 2025 Speech
Ambassador Anne Koistinen
Europe Day Reception, 6 May 2025
Massa’ Al-Kheir,
Your Excellency Ambassador Sadeq Maarafi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Europe Affairs,
Excellencies, distinguished guests and friends of Europe, it is my great pleasure to warmly welcome you all to our Europe Day celebration.
Today we mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which on 9 May 1950 paved the way for the birth of the European Union as a project of peace for the European continent. After being the battleground for Two World Wars, we learned in Europe the hard way that it is only through cooperation and creating interconnected societies that our countries can achieve lasting peace, prosperity and progress.
While the world is changing rapidly and becoming more fragmented, the EU continues to promote dialogue, stability, prosperity and mutual understanding. The European Union is a reliable partner and invests in mutually beneficial relations based on trust and respect. Both the EU and Kuwait provide steadfast support to multilateralism, the UN Charter, and the principles of good international cooperation.
In this contested and unstable world, we at the EU defend and promote a rules-based order, and we reject the law of the strongest.
Reports coming out of Gaza are deeply alarming. The EU deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire and the deaths of civilians, including children, in Israeli airstrikes. We have repeatedly called for an immediate return to the ceasefire, and on Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid. The EU is working hand in hand with Arab and Gulf partners to advance towards a real, just and lasting peace in the framework of the Two-State Solution.
Turning to the situation in Ukraine, it has been more than three years since Russia launched a full-scale aggression against the country. Our main objective as European Union is to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter. We appreciate Kuwait’s principled stance in support to Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.
As the GCC Presidency, Kuwait plays a key role in driving forward our strategic partnership, building on the first EU-GCC Summit last year in Brussels. I am delighted that Kuwait will host later this year the 29th High-level Ministerial meeting between the EU and the GCCAlso the next 9th EU-GCC Business Forum will take place in Kuwait.
These important events highlight the enduring partnership between us. And, I strongly believe that there is a potential for more cooperation in many areas including trade and investments, regional security, infrastructure, energy, economic diversification, as well as humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
The EU and Kuwait are both strong humanitarian actors supporting most vulnerable populations around the world. The recent visit to Kuwait by the European Commission’s Director-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations confirms our keen interest also to cooperate in these important areas.
The EU believes that fair and rules-based trade is a powerful engine of global prosperity. The EU-GCC Summit last October confirmed our shared aims to have a thriving and mutually favorable trade and investment relationship. We aim to take forward our discussions at regional level with a view to reach a GCC-EU Free Trade Agreement. At the same time, the European Union is open to enhance its relations with GCC countries bilaterally, including with Kuwait, and take our strategic partnership to new levels.
Over the last year, we have accomplished many joint activities in the fields of Green Transition, Peace and Security, renewables and sustainability, women’s empowerment, as well as youth, academia, culture and human rights. Our close cooperation culminated with the high-level visit of the President of the European Council to Kuwait last September.
As Kuwait is the Arab Capital of Culture this year, today I would also like to celebrate the multiple cultural connections that have bonded Kuwait and EU Member States for centuries. We are happy to announce that 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of EU-Kuwait diplomatic relations.
Every year, tens of thousands of Kuwaitis visit Europe. Acknowledging the special relationship, the EU introduced in 2023 the most favourable Schengen visa rules for Kuwaiti citizens, allowing for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years. Achieving visa free travel for Kuwaiti citizens remains one of my goals.
I would like to avail of this opportunity to extend my gratitude to HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah as well as HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. I am also thankful to HE the Foreign Minister Abdullah Al Yahya and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their notable efforts in further enhancing our relations.
This Europe Day comes as part of the second annual Europe Month celebrations in Kuwait. I thank the 16 EU Member-State Ambassadors and Chargés d'Affaires resident in Kuwait for their efforts in showcasing ‘Team Europe’ spirit through their various events during this Month and for their collaboration all along the year.
I would also like to sincerely thank the sponsors of our event this evening, which include “IKEA” and two Kuwaiti law firms, “Dar Al-Muhama” and “Hussain Al-Huraiti Partners”. Thank you for your invaluable support to this event. It has been a pleasure to prepare this celebration with you. I invite all guests to visit their booths in the outside hall.
Finally, I also wish to thank my fantastic team at the EU Delegation for their great work on tonight’s event, and invite you all to enjoy the celebration.
Thank you, and Happy Europe Day to all!
Yom Uruba Said! يوم أوروبا سعيد