The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdulrahman Al-Attiya, said that Tuesday's coordination meeting finalized a detailed plan that could go to form a road map for joint work between the GCC and the European Union. The GCC secretary general said progress had been made in negotiations with the European Union for a free trade zone agreement, with consultations continuing to strive toward a final agreement following the removal of obstacles before the two parties. “Export fees,” Al-Attiya said, “are still under discussion.” He said that Tuesday's meeting in Riyadh, due to conclude Wednesday, between specialists from GCC states and the European Union on activating the joint cooperation agreement had put in place a final formula to arrive at a joint project for a comprehensive work plan between Europe and the Gulf. The Secretary General described cooperation in the proposed work plan as involving economic collaboration through continued cooperation with the GCC central bank and the monetary union of Gulf states to learn from European experience, investment cooperation through encouraging investment exchange between them, as well as cooperation in sea, land and air transport, energy and electricity sectors, higher education and scientific research, setting up programs of higher studies at Gulf universities focusing on specialized modern science subjects such as the peaceful use of nuclear power and genetic engineering. The gathering will discuss Wednesday forming a joint team to combat money laundering and terrorism funding and submit proposals to the joint work committee, and also address developments in the oil market and the two parties' energy policies.
