FNC delegation holds talks with head of Arab Peninsula Committee

A delegation from the Federal National Council, FNC, headed by Abdul Aziz Al Zaabi, Second Deputy Speaker of the FNC, met with Michelle Alliot-Marie, Member of the European Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee on European Relations with the Arab Peninsula in the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday.

The meeting focussed on discussing the ways of strengthening the co-operation and partnership between both sides in various areas, and it highlighted the importance of supporting joint dialogue on various issues of common concern, in the light of the developments and crises in the Middle East and around the world.

The FNC delegation included Hamad Abdullah Al Ghafli, Dr. Saeed Al Mutawa, Saeed Saleh Al Rumaithi, Azza Sulaiman bin Sulaiman, and Matar Suhail Al Dhaheri.

The meeting also discussed the means of enhancing the co-operation and partnership between the UAE and European Union, EU, member countries in the areas of politics, business, the economy, culture and tourism, as well as sustainable development and innovation, while stressing the importance of developing parliamentary relations, to achieve the aspirations and hopes of the leaders and people of both sides.

Both sides also agreed on the importance of continuing their co-ordination, consultation and mutual visits, to achieve the best outcomes, in line with the major developments witnessed in their bilateral relations, especially in investing in parliamentary diplomacy, due to their significant role in supporting and enhancing the work of governments and facilitating communication in many sectors.

The two sides reviewed several topics, including economic diversification, sustainability, climate change, the strategy of the UAE Gender Balance Council, the UAE's leadership in empowering women and its youth, and its provision of international humanitarian aid, especially for refugees.

At the start of the meeting, Alliot-Marie welcomed the FNC delegation to the European Parliament while highlighting the importance of communication and discussed various issues between the FNC and the Arab Peninsula Committee.

She also valued the FNC’s key role in activating various co-operation ties with EU member countries and stated that the UAE is a strategic partner of the EU countries in sustainable development, the economy, the environment, innovation and in combatting terrorism and extremism.

Alliot-Marie affirmed the strength of the EU’s co-operative partnership with the UAE, by describing them as advanced and historic relations while confirming that the EU supports the efforts of Kuwait to find a diplomatic solution to the Qatari crisis, without any outside interference.

She again highlighted the UAE's important role in the combatting extremism and terrorism while stressing the need for greater efforts from all concerned countries to eradicate them permanently, as well as the importance of close friendships and greater trust with other countries.