Young DGAP of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the “Europe’s Future” program of the Bertelsmann Stiftung cordially invite you to:
Europe and the Arab Gulf States: Perspectives for Cooperation Among the EU, the GCC, and the MENA Region
Geopolitical developments across the Middle East and the Mediterranean are reshaping Europe’s Southern Neighborhood as regional actors reassess alliances, expand economic ties, and respond to evolving security and energy dynamics. In this context, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has assumed a more prominent economic and diplomatic role by pursuing diversification agendas, strengthening international partnerships, and engaging in connectivity initiatives that link Europe with the Middle East and India.
For the European Union, these developments highlight the need for more strategic engagement with the Gulf states and the broader region, including MENA. While the EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Gulf (2022), the first EU-GCC summit (2024), and the New Pact for the Mediterranean (2025) provide initial frameworks, further triangular cooperation among the EU, GCC, and partners within the Southern Neighborhood could open new avenues to address shared challenges. Moving toward the next EU-GCC summit to be held in Riyadh in 2026, these issues will gain added relevance and be crucial for Europe’s foreign policy.
Drawing on a new survey on EU-GGC relations by the Gulf Research Center and the “Europe’s Future” program of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, this event will examine pathways and obstacles for Europe and Germany to strengthen their roles in a region marked by both instability and emerging opportunities.
Welcoming Remarks:
Pascal Bernhard, Young DGAP
Survey Presentation: “Promoting MENA Stability and Prosperity in the Context of EU-GCC Relations”
Christian Hanelt, Senior Expert Europe, Neighborhood, and the Middle East, Bertelsmann Stiftung’s “Europe’s Future” Program
Christian Koch, Executive Manager, Gulf Research Center Foundation Brussels and Director of Research, Gulf Research Center
Panel:
Niels Annen, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Sonja Thebes, Deputy Head of International Markets, Federation of German Industries (BDI); Executive Director, North Africa Middle East Initiative of German Business (NMI)
Leonetta Pajer, Deputy Head of Unit “GCC Strategic Cooperation on Investment Promotion and Financial instruments,” Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf, European Commission
Christian Hanelt, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Moderator:
Alma Gretenkord, Chair of the Hauptstadt Forum, Young DGAP