European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council trade and sustainability relations (original) (raw)

2024, Forthcoming in R. Leal-Arcas (ed.), RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON EU ENERGY LAW AND POLICY: SECOND EDITION, Elgar Energy Law Series, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2024, Chapter 17

The chapter has eight sections. After the introductory section, Section 2 sets the scene. Section 3 provides an overview of the trade relations between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Section 4 explains the importance of diversifying both the GCC economy, so that the GCC can reduce dependence on crude oil and gas, and the EU economy, mainly through exportation. Section 5 analyzes the links between sustainability and international trade, and asks whether the impact of trade on sustainability is positive or negative. Section 6 specifically analyzes the impact of a potential free trade agreement between the EU and the GCC on the GCC’s climate change goals. Section 7 explores the potential of a renewable-energy trade agreement between the EU and the GCC. Finally, Section 8 provides an analysis of the key elements for a potential investment agreement between both regions.

EU-GCC Cooperation in an Era of Socio-Economic Challenges

Sharaka Research Paper n°8, 2013

This paper aims at exploring how the European Union (EU) could contribute to tackling the socio-economic challenges facing the countries of the Gulf, thus also capitalising on the opportunity to inject new stimulus into its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). In particular, the paper argues in favour of pursuing a strategic dialogue through a new economic framework focused on addressing some of the critical issues standing in the way of development sustainability in the Gulf. A special attention is devoted to specific rising sectors that, as drivers of soft power, could impact the mutual perception across the two regions. Against this backdrop, Oman is presented as a case study as it could be a significantly fertile terrain to apply this framework and, at the same time, the country has shown to be a peculiar actor in foreign policy, one that the EU should better engage.

Measuring the Economic Impact of an EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement

2004

Economic growth rates in the Gulf region have languished in recent years and need to be raised to accommodate the rapidly growing populations and social aspirations of the region. Using a simple model of world trade, this report investigates the economic impacts of the new customs union of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the proposed free trade agreement (FTA)

Negotiation Level Between the EU and the GCC

2020

EU-GCC relations started thirty years ago, but proceeded very slowly. After the first agreement between the two institutions in 1998, the EU transformed, the GCC slowly changed, the international system dramatically converted and rules between two parties were amended by the ENP of the EU. Although both sides need each other, obstinate policies caused cessation of relations several times. According to some scholars, the GCC is becoming a periphery region for them, however the GCC still needs the EU as a first market in total trade. Bilateralism, cultural differences, the GCC's loose integration and lack of EU leverage in the Gulf could be lined up as some reasons for the non-progressive relations. Recent developments such as Trump’s election, Brexit, the Qatar crisis, 5+1 Iran Nuclear Deal and Russia's growing interest to the Gulf are affecting EU-GCC relations negatively. In this study, historical and recent developments and their effects on the EU-GCC relations were examin...

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