By KUNA,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) constantly works to enhance its relations with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), through agreements over important issues, said an EU official.
The official, requesting anonymity, told KUNA that there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed before the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides could be signed.
Such issues include human rights and democracy, which the EU views as crucial to negotiations, the official said, noting that each item could be discussed separately The 18th EU-GCC meeting had been held here in May, and the two sides called for a swift tackling of all affairs hindering the FTA. The two sides have been negotiating an FTA for the past 18 years.
As for bilateral relations, the official described EU-GCC ties as “excellent,” adding that relations in many cases were strong with the GCC than within the framework of the EU itself.
On a different note, the official said the EU was seeing the impact of the global economic crisis, but said that he was sure it would be able to overcome it.
On the Iranian nuclear file, the official said the EU was trying to resolve the issue through peaceful means and avoid military action that would harm the region.
He said, however, that it was the right of all states to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially as it was an alternative to oil.
Speaking about president-elect Barack Obama, the official expressed optimism over the new administration’s ability to tackle the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the critical stance of Palestinians.