“The main objective of the meeting is to enhance the scope of GCC joint action and to achieve integration and unity among the GCC countries, as well as to develop parliamentary work in the region within the framework of an effective institutional system in the Gulf Cooperation Council,” Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh said.

He said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is keen on strengthening unity among participating countries, enabling them to work together to achieve common goals to maintain the identity of Gulf nations.

The meeting will be held at the Conference Palace in Jeddah and will be chaired by Al-Asheikh.

Besides covering a few amendments to existing regulations governing the group, Al-Asheikh said the participants would discuss the possibility of setting up an integrated data network for the GCC assemblies, including proposals, studies and research. The proposal has been put forward by the United Arab Emirates.

The meeting will also examine a Bahraini proposal to organize visits involving legislators of council states to headquarters of the European Parliament and the US Congress. Depending on the decision that will be taken at the forthcoming meeting, the delegates will chalk out a timetable for such joint visits.

Last week in Dubai, parliamentary figures of GCC states held the first session of the fourth meeting of the committee of parliamentary coordination and external relations, an offshoot of the regular meeting of chairmen and members of GCC parliaments and legislative bodies.

Deputy Speaker of Kuwait's National Assembly Abdullah Al-Roumi said the proposal to organize visits involving legislators of the council states to headquarters of the European Parliament and the US Congress would be referred to the summit in Jeddah.

Elaborating on topics that were examined during the meeting, he said the conferees discussed a proposal by the UAE to set regulations for such gatherings, adding that Abu Dhabi was asked to present a study regarding this issue.

Some of the most significant issues examined included amendment of regulations of the meeting of the parliaments' chairmen, said Adnan Abdulsamad, a member of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, in remarks to KUNA.

He also indicated that the establishment of a common GCC parliament was put on the table. However, after drawing divergent reactions, it was shelved, along with a suggestion to tackle the issue of "GCC confederation," he said.

The conferees examined other proposals such as the formation of a common panel to activate statutes of the commission and assessing the experience of GCC assemblies.

For his part, Allam Al-Kanderi, secretary-general of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, said the conferees were unanimous in condemning Iran's intervention in the domestic affairs of the GCC countries and supporting the Peninsula Shield force.