QNA/Doha


GCC parliamentary committee tasked with consolidating ties with the European Parliament held its first co-ordination meeting in Doha yesterday, under the auspices of HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi.
The meeting, chaired by Advisory Council Observer Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Sulaiti, was attended by delegations from GCC Shura councils and house of representatives and HE the Assistant GCC Secretary General for Legislative and Legal Affairs Ambassador Hamad bin Rashid al-Marri, and Ambassador Amal al-Hamad, head of GCC Mission to the European Union in Brussels.
Al-Sulaiti said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) at the end of the meeting that they discussed the committee’s plan for the next stage and prepared a vision for meetings and contacts with the European Parliament which will take place across various institutions and committees.
He pointed to a plan of action on programmes and mutual visits between the GCC and European parties to further strengthen relationships between the two sides.
In his speech at the meeting, al-Sulaiti highlighted the importance of cementing relations with the European Parliament and the vital role that can be played by legislatures in this regard.
He praised the formation of this committee which was formed during the eighth meeting of the heads of GCC legislatures in Doha with aim to strengthen relations with the European Parliament, adding that the GCC legislatures succeeded in creating communication and interaction with various groups and regional and international bodies and were able to take advanced steps in this direction.
Al-Sulaiti said that the meeting was another achievement by the GCC.
For his part, the Assistant GCC Secretary General for Legislative and Legal Affairs expressed gratitude to Qatar for hosting this important parliamentary meeting, stressing the need to strengthen co-operation between the GCC and the European Parliament for the benefit of both sides.