Second Edition of the ‘Young Leaders in Regional Diplomacy’ Programme, Deepening EU-GCC Strategic Partnership

H.E. Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, welcomed the successful conclusion of the second edition:

“This training programme, it's very important for our EU-GCC strategy, in particular because it is, first of all, preventive diplomacy. We are bringing together, and I would say even closer, the diplomatic corps of the future. And many of the young diplomats coming from the GCC are already in crucial positions in their diplomacy, and this is very important for understanding better the machine of Brussels, and vice-versa.”

The Head of the Delegation of the GCC to the EU, H.E. Fahad AlJaimaz, also highlighted the importance of the exchange:

“This joint training programme is the fruit of the distinguished and exceptional strategic partnership between the GCC and the EU. It is also evidence of the mutual keenness to strengthen communication between our peoples and build bridges. It is considered a great positive contribution within the framework of our continuous exchanges. It will contribute to deepening and opening new horizons for future cooperation and creating successive generations of specialized diplomats, representing the best possible human investment.”

This pioneering exchange, a result of collaboration between the EU and the GCC General Secretariat, brought together 12 young diplomats from the six GCC Member States and 2 from the GCC Secretariat General, including two young diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Qatar. They engaged with their fellow European young diplomats at the European Union Diplomatic Academy at the College of Europe in Bruges followed by visiting EU institutions, and other EU-related organisations in Brussels. The programme was specifically aimed at improving and enhancing strategic diplomatic relations between the two regional blocs.

Building on the success of the inaugural programme held in May 2024, this year’s expanded 10-day visit underscores the joint commitment to strengthen and broaden the strategic partnership, particularly by enhancing diplomatic exchanges.

During their visit, the Gulf diplomats engaged in a comprehensive agenda designed to deepen their understanding of the EU’s institutional framework, foreign, security, defence, and energy policies. The diplomats met with senior EU officials and representatives from prominent European think tanks. The sessions provided a crucial opportunity to exchange views on key strategic areas of mutual interest and discuss priorities for the future of bilateral and regional relations, alongside participating in informal exchanges and cultural activities.

Commenting on the visit, the EU Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Cristian Tudor, said:

"Fostering deeper understanding between the diplomats of the EU and Qatar is central to our Strategic Partnership with the Gulf. The participation of the two young Qatari diplomats in this rigorous programme has been highly valuable, paving the way for enhanced institutional and people-to-people links that will drive our bilateral relations forward."

About the Programme

The ‘Young Leaders in Regional Diplomacy’ programme is coordinated by the office of the EU Special Representative for the Gulf, Luigi Di Maio, and is implemented with the support of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instrument and the GCC General Secretariat.

The programme was originally launched during the High-Level Forum on 22 April 2024 in Luxembourg, which brought together the EU and GCC Foreign Ministers for the first time in an informal dialogue on regional security and cooperation. The initiative is a concrete step in realising the vision set out in the EU's 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf.

The Joint Communication sets the vision for EU-Gulf relations that aims to broaden and deepen the EU’s cooperation with the GCC and its Member States, presenting concrete proposals to strengthen cooperation on energy, green transition and climate change, trade and economic diversification, regional stability and global security, humanitarian and development challenges, and closer people-to-people contacts.

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Pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cjHdDnIPdbledEvY8N_KUN-fWUT5pHma 

Video: 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EqfPvluf6uNcWpLqwpgZi8bVMsvBkNWp 

Participants testimonials:   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oGbWbklscJ4V2w1dvLp3xxQ_D-gp0qyh 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Leticia Vicario, lvicario@equinoccio.eu (EU Outreach Facility for the GCC)