The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, will travel to Oman on 8-11 October to co-chair the 27^th EU-GCC Joint Council.

The Joint Council will be an opportunity to reaffirm the EU’s strong commitment to a strategic partnership with the Gulf and for partners to exchange on a wide range of issues, notably energy, climate, security, humanitarian aid, and regional files. The Council will also take stock of the implementation of the EU-GCC Joint Action Plan, adopted in February 2022.

On Monday 9 October, the HR/VP will have bilateral meetings with Omani interlocutors. He will give a lecture at the Omani National Defence College and will visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

While in Muscat, High Representative Borrell will also pay a visit to the Spanish Frigate “Navarra’, part of the European Union Naval Force Operation ATALANTA.

On Tuesday 10 October, High Representative Borrell will co-chair the EU-GCC Joint Council alongside the current Omani GCC Presidency, represented by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman.

After the Council, High Representative Borrell, the Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and the GCC General Secretary Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi will hold a press conference at around 15:00 local time (13:00 CET), that will be broadcast live on Ebs.

In the margins of the 27^th EU-GCC Joint Council on Tuesday, the HR/VP will have bilateral meetings with the rest of the Ministers from individual GCC countries.

Press engagements throughout the visits will be broadcast on EBS, and remarks of the press points will be published on the EEAS website.

Follow also @JosepBorrellF and @eu_eeas for further information.