Source: WAM
The United Arab Emirates and the European Union have officially launched negotiations on a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), marking a significant step toward deepening bilateral relations.
The start of the negotiations was announced by Dubravka Šuica, European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean, whose portfolio includes EU relations with the Gulf region, and Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The launch of the SPA negotiations marks a key milestone in strengthening and institutionalising cooperation across shared priorities, running in parallel with ongoing negotiations on an EU-UAE Free Trade Agreement.
Framework for Comprehensive UAE-EU Cooperation
The proposed Strategic Partnership Agreement is designed to provide a comprehensive institutional framework for the full spectrum of UAE-EU cooperation. It builds on commitments outlined at the 2024 EU–Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Brussels and advances objectives set out in the European Union’s 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf, as well as the 2018 Cooperation Arrangement between the European External Action Service and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The agreement is expected to formalise collaboration across economic, political, and strategic domains, reflecting the evolving depth of the UAE-EU relationship.
Focus on Trade, Stability, and Future Growth Sectors
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in key areas, including trade, investment, and humanitarian assistance. The discussions also highlighted the role the UAE and the EU can play in fostering connectivity between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement will further enhance collaboration to promote regional peace and stability, safeguard multilateralism, and uphold international law. It is also expected to accelerate cooperation in emerging and high-growth sectors, including connectivity, research and innovation, energy, the green and digital transition, and artificial intelligence.
Advancing a Future-Oriented Partnership
The UAE and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to advancing an ambitious and future-focused partnership that strengthens long-standing ties amid an increasingly complex regional and global environment. The agreement seeks to deliver tangible benefits for the people of the United Arab Emirates, the European Union, and their wider shared neighbourhood.
