Head of the EU delegation Ambassador Luigi Narbone also unveiled a program to strengthen ties between the EU and Gulf blocs. “The EU-GCC Joint Action Program would strengthen ties, especially in the areas of economics and industry, energy and environment as well as science and technology,” he said.

Narbone added that “the initiative would also help to intensify our dialogue and our cooperation” on a day-to-day basis with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

To this end, he noted that a busy agenda awaits a meeting between GCC and EU foreign ministers on June 14 in Luxembourg. He said that the EU wanted to use its new instruments and powers, especially following the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty to bring Europe and Saudi Arabia closer together.

He said that the EU delegation in Riyadh had already taken up several initiatives in general to forge closer ties with the Gulf bloc and the Kingdom in particular. Besides commercial and political initiatives, a plan to hold a symposium on nuclear energy was also in the pipeline. A European Film Festival, in which 15 movies will be shown in Riyadh until June 2, is currently underway, he added.

Referring to the celebrations of Europe Day, Narbone said that European cooperation had grown closer and was covering more areas since former French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman called for European unity six decades ago.

He said “the EU was building up its own External Action Service this year” something that would have been unthinkable in 2000, let alone in 1950. It will be the EU’s principal interface with international partners, acting as Europe’s “eyes, ears and face” in the world, he added.

He said that Schuman’s historical declaration continues to drive the integration project on the European continent today and “inspire partnerships” forged beyond the borders of Europe, including the Gulf bloc.

In this context, he said that Europe Day has become the symbol of a new beginning and peaceful cooperation, especially with Gulf partners.

The event was organized by the Riyadh-based European Commission delegation, in which all embassies representing EU countries in the Saudi capital participated. It was also attended by members of the royal family and other dignitaries.