The 27-member European Union and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold here later today their 20th joint ministerial council to expand and deepen their cooperation and relationship. The meeting is to endorse a joint Action Plan which includes several areas of cooperation such as trade, energy, transportation, telecommunication and culture, according to EU and GCC sources. The one-day meeting will also discuss regional issues like Iran's nuclear programme, the Palestine question, the recent Israeli attack on the Gaza peace flotilla and the situation in Iraq, according to a report of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah whose country holds the current GCC Presidency will chair the meeting from the GCC side while EU High Representative for foreign and security policy Catherine Ashtong will lead the EU delegation. Those attending from the GCC side include its Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, Dr. Nizar Madani, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, undersecretary of state for diplomatic affairs of Oman Ahmad bin Yusuf al-Harthi and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al- Mahmoud . The meeting will issue a joint communiqué and hold a press conference after the meeting tonight. EU foreign ministers meet thrice in Luxembourg in April, June and October and the rest of the year they meet in Brussels.
