The visit of Al-Zayani, in response to an invitation extended by Catherine Ashton, high representative of EU for foreign affairs and security policy, comes within the framework of the joint cooperation agreement signed by the two sides earlier.

"Al-Zayani, who will be traveling with top GCC officials including Saad Al-Ammar, the GCC's deputy secretary-general for political affairs, will hold bilateral talks with Ashton on Jan. 31," said Saleem S. A. Al-Alwi, GCC spokesman, here Saturday.

Al-Alwi pointed out Al-Zayani was in Istanbul with Prince Saud Al-Faisal on Saturday to attend the GCC-Turkey dialogue. Foreign ministers of six Gulf countries are meeting in Istanbul Saturday to explore new ways of cooperation with Turkey amid Iranian threats.

The Saudi foreign minister underscored Turkey’s role in peace and stabilty in the region and for resolving the Palestinian issue, in a statement after the GCC foreign ministers’ meeting.

The latest threat from Iran follows a European Union decision earlier this week to enforce an oil embargo against Iran starting this summer, to pressure Tehran over its secretive nuclear program which the West fears is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

"Hence, the visit of Al-Zayani to Brussels, where he will also hold talks with Belgian officials besides meeting several EU officials, has added significance," said a political analyst. He said that the two sides might also discuss other proposals including the possibility to start negotiations for the free trade agreement.

"Both sides still look committed to negotiations toward a free trade agreement which were initiated in 1990 and gained momentum in 2007, but later failed," he added. The EU has also been committed to sharing its experiences of economic integration, particularly on monetary union, with the GCC, which is undergoing a similar process to that of the European Union, he noted, while referring to the joint action program currently being implemented by the two blocs in several areas.

Referring to the agenda of Al-Zayani's visit, a GCC statement said the council chief will hold talks with the presidents of the European Parliament and European Commission besides talking to several EU and Belgian officials. "Al-Zayani will also deliver a speech on the role of the GCC countries regionally and internationally and the future prospects of GCC and EU relations in Brussels," said the statement, adding the two sides may also evaluate the progress of the joint action program.

At the 2010 Joint Council, an EU-GCC Joint Action Program was launched for 2010-2013, and was agreed. This program envisages increased cooperation in an array of areas. This joint program will lead to greater cooperation between the two blocs and will be reviewed finally in 2013 when it expires. This program as well as the increased cooperation between the GCC and EU is essential keeping in view the new challenges facing the two regions. The EU, on the other side, has taken a bigger role in the region of late.

The EU has recently appointed Andreas Reinicke as EU Special Representative to the Middle East Peace Process. The task of the special representative will be to contribute to achieving the EU's policy objectives in the region, including a comprehensive peace, a two-state solution and a settlement of the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts. He will act as the EU envoy to the Middle East Quartet.