Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa received a delegation from the European Parliament, led by Inese Vaidere, currently on visit to the Kingdom.
Shaikh Khalid said that the European parliamentarians’ visit to the kingdom would enable the two sides to exchange information and discuss ways of bolstering bilateral relations and consolidating joint strategic partnership, stressing the importance of taking advantage of the European experience in the field of human rights.
He also discussed with the visiting delegation the obstacles facing the Free Trade Agreement signed between the GCC and the European Union, calling for the need to remove them within the framework of the joint deep-rooted economic and trade ties.
He also highlighted the importance of activating the GCC-European cooperation for the common interests of both sides.
Relations with Iran, the Iranian nuclear programme and other regional issues of mutual concern were also spotlighted.
It is to be noted that the next Joint GCC-EU Ministerial Meeting will be held in Bahrain in 2013.