High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell met Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, HH Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud in Brussels today. The meeting took place in the context of enhanced bilateral ties and also regional relations within the framework of EU’s intensified cooperation with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the basis of the EU Joint Communication for a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf.

Considering the deepening bilateral relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia, HR/VP Borrell and his Saudi counterpart discussed shared concerns and interests related to climate change, energy transition, economic diversification, security, trade and investment and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

As a follow-up to the constructive second Human Rights Dialogue that the EU held with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh last November, High Representative Borrell also raised the topic of Human Rights, where issues of concern remain, and underlined the importance of a close exchange in this regard. He acknowledged the important societal changes taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and recognised the positive steps made by the Saudi authorities.

Partners also discussed the negative consequences on the global stability by Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, especially in terms of food and energy security. The High Representative highlighted the importance and necessity for international community to protect the rules-based multilateral world order and uphold respect for the UN Charter, especially for what concerns sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries.

The meeting was also an important opportunity to have in-depth exchanges on the regional situation, with particular focus on the Gulf, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East Peace Process.