The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council: Towards a New Path (Contemporary Gulf Studies)

This book provides a comprehensive assessment of the various dimensions of the relationship between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and highlights how relations are yet to reach their full potential. Despite both parties sharing a number of common interests, including trade, energy, climate change, security and cultural cooperation, the multilateral cooperation framework remains limited, with most engagement taking place bilaterally, between individual European and GCC countries. The book reassesses the potential and prospects for the EU's engagement with GCC countries based on the recalibration and reconciliation of both parties' national and regional interests. Taking a thematic approach, each of the three sections of the book examines a key dimension of the relationship, its current status and its path forward. Dr Adel Abdel Ghafar is a fellow in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings and at the Brookings Doha Center, where he was previously Director of Research. He specializes in political economy and his research interests include state-society relations, socio-economic development and foreign policy in the MENA region. Dr Silvia Colombo is Senior Fellow in the Mediterranean and Middle East and Italy's Foreign Policy programs at the Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). She is an expert on Middle Eastern politics and in this capacity she is working on Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, EU-GCC relations, political and security developments in the MENA, conflict management and democratization, and gender and youth inclusion. Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Introduction The Unfulfilled Potential of EU-GCC Multilateral Relations and Shifting Geopolitical and Domestic Realities Structure of the Book Overcoming Structural Constraints in EU-GCC Relations: The Format, the Content and the Actors EU-GCC Relations: Historical Depth and Stock Taking Unpacking Structural Constraints in EU-GCC Relations Multilateral vs. Bilateral Cooperation It’s the Economy, Stupid! Institutional vs. People-to-People Relations Changing Contextual Dynamics Impacting on EU-GCC Relations Conclusion and the Way Forward Tailoring a Local Approach: Extending EU Policy Objectives to Facilitate Technical and Vocational Education to Work Transitions in Saudi Arabia Introduction TVET in the GCC Countries TVET in Saudi Arabia The EU and TVET in Saudi Arabia Young People, Choice and TVET Policies Key Channels for Cooperation Between the EU and Saudi TVET: Strengthening Push and Pull Factors Conclusion Cultural and Religious Diplomacy as Soft Power in EU-GCC Relations Introduction Cultural and Religious Diplomacy in EU-GCC Relations New Forms of Power and Influence Cultural and Religious Diplomacy in Action Higher Education and Research Partnerships Museums and Culture Religious Interaction Sport as a Tool of Soft Power Conclusion Domestic Economic Plans and Visions and Opportunities for Cooperation with Europe Introduction The GCC and Their “Visions” The “Visions” The Role of the EU Job Creation and Entrepreneurship Renewable Energy Tourism, Sports, Entertainment The Tech Industry Logistics Development Cooperation: Prospects for an EU-GCC Triangulation Conclusion and Outlook Navigating the New Era: Energy and Environmental Considerations in EU-GCC Relations The Evolution of an EU Energy and Climate Policy Agenda Energy Security in the European Union Geopolitics Trends in the Global Energy Market Concluding Observations and Policy Implications EU-GCC Trade and Investments Introduction A Historical Perspective on EU and GCC Foreign Economic Strategies EU-GCC Trade and Investment Relations Trade in Goods Investment Prospects for Deepening EU-GCC Trade and Investment Relations Recent Developments in the EU Recent Developments in the GCC Conclusion: Are Relations Likely to Deepen or Retreat? EU-GCC Parliamentary Relations: Multilateral Challenges, Bilateral Gains Introduction Recent Meetings Between the EU and the GCC Bahrain Domestic Legislature EU Engagement Kuwait Domestic Legislature EU Engagement Oman Domestic Legislature EU Engagement Qatar Domestic Legislature EU Engagement Saudi Arabia Domestic Legislature EU Engagement United Arab Emirates Domestic Legislature EU Engagement Conclusion: Opportunities and Challenges Moving Forward EU Approaches to the Gulf Crisis Framing the EU-GCC Relationship The EU Responses to the GCC Crisis Implications of the June 2017 GCC Rift for EU-GCC Relations Outlook and Conclusion Gulf Security Architecture and the Potential Role of Europe Introduction and Context Gulf Security—Key Players and Their Views on Regional Security The New Middle East Cold War Iran Saudi Arabia The Second Front Qatar The United Arab Emirates Other Actors Other Members of the GCC The United States Russia China Israel Europe: Limited Engagement, Considerable Leverage What Role for Europe in Fostering Security Cooperation in the Gulf? Loose Coordination, Piecemeal Engagement Rebuilding a Nuclear Deal with Iran Towards a Europe-Centred Strategic Alliance Conclusion Conclusion: EU-GCC Relations at a Crossroads EU-GCC Relations: The Path Forward Index