Saudi-EU partnership is of mutual benefit

On May 9, the EU celebrates Europe Day, marking the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, which created a joint European authority to oversee the production of coal and steel.

Since the birth of the European Communities in 1957, the citizens of our member states have enjoyed more than six decades of unprecedented peace, prosperity and security, after two catastrophic wars in Europe between 1914 and 1945 that left millions dead and a continent devastated, divided and prostrated.

For countries that had long been at war, European integration has been the most successful peace project in our history. It is also a common story of prosperity, equality, wellbeing and sustainability — a shared success story.

Saudi Arabia is a key strategic partner for political and security stability in the Gulf and beyond, while the EU engages bilaterally with each country in the region, but also with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The EU wants to build a genuine strategic partnership with the Kingdom, which already has historical ties with several member states. We would also like to enhance understanding of the EU among the Saudi people and authorities.

Moreover, we want to find inclusive and sustainable solutions to regional crises. Security, counterterrorism and countering violent extremism should be a point of focus of our cooperation.

We need to come together to address not only regional but also global challenges constructively. Finally, a boost of people-to-people dialogue and deepened exchange can promote better understanding and open up new avenues for cooperation.

We mutually want to enhance and widen our bilateral cooperation. In a sign of Saudi Arabia’s increasing commitment to our partnership, it has established a mission in Brussels dedicated to the EU, and created a European directorate at the Foreign Ministry in Riyadh.

In Saudi Arabia, the EU delegation is focusing on widening its cooperation not only with authorities, the Shoura Council, government agencies and advisory bodies, but also with other important stakeholders and civil society at large.

Together with our member states, we are very closely following all the important developments in the Kingdom, and looking for ways to accompany them, and to offer our collective expertise and partnerships wherever they might provide added value.

Vision 2030 represents a truly remarkable reform agenda driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Even if only a limited number of its targets were to be attained, it would transform the Kingdom. It is important for the EU that Saudi Arabia succeed in its reform agenda, as it will lead to a more diversified economy and a resilient society.

It is in our critical interest to support Vision 2030, and many EU and international partners have already publicly voiced their support for this historic transformation of the Kingdom. Energy, economic diversification and transport are key areas, among others, in which we can offer the unique assets and scale of the European Single Market. Our expertise and know-how could be useful in this important stage of the country’s transformation.

• Ambassador Michele d’Urso Cervone is head of the EU delegation to Saudi Arabia.

Twitter: @MCervoneEU