Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas participated on Wednesday, 20 April 2011, in the proceedings of the 21st EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting, which was held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) under the co-chairmanship of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Items on the Ministerial’s agenda included EU-GCC relations and matters of common interest pertaining to the wider region.
Following the Ministerial, Mr. Droutsas met in an excellent climate with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and discussed issues pertaining to Greek-UAE relations. Following their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the creation of a Greek-UAE joint cooperation committee.
This MoU provides for the setting up of a committee co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers and aimed at coordinating and promoting bilateral relations in all sectors. It is to serve as the main institutional mechanism for promoting Greek-UAE economic and commercial relations. Committee meetings will take place annually, alternating between Athens and Abu Dhabi.
April 21, 2011