The Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, praised the key objective of strengthening relations between the EU and the Gulf countries, in a way that leads to building a strategic cooperation with a positive agenda for the benefit of all countries and their peoples, during the working dinner of EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers', ahead of the first leaders' meeting to be held this afternoon in Brussels, in the context of expanding and strengthening EU's strategic relationship with the Gulf States.

According to Deputy Ministry sources, in her intervention in the debate, Raouna underlined that the Gulf countries are important and equal partners and highlighted the need for the EU to take a critical approach to the region, developments in which have a direct and serious impact on the EU.

They added that Cyprus will also act further on this basis, since, as Raouna said, due to its geographical location and the excellent relations it maintains with the Gulf countries, Cyprus is familiar with the region and has over time been active as a bridge between the EU and the region. Furthermore, she stressed that recognising the value of further strengthening relations, this objective will be part of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026.

The same sources also noted that in addition to the major security issues, the Deputy Minister pointed out that issues that affect and concern all should be included, such as climate change, innovation, cooperation on renewable energy, citizen-to-citizen contacts and cooperation at the social and economic level.

Raouna also referred to the example of the migration problem and the rise of extremism in Europe, the sources at the Deputy Ministry continued, adding that she pointed out the need for the EU to invest in addressing the root causes, to listen and understand the facts and dynamics in the region, otherwise there will be no effective and sustainable solution to these phenomena.

Finally, according to the same information, after the dinner, Gulf countries thanked Cyprus through Deputy Minister Raouna for its role, its understanding and for highlighting the importance of the region, and expressed their wish to undertake joint initiatives in the margins of the Cyprus Presidency.