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JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia), 21 July 2026

Four members of the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula of the European Parliament, led by MEP Reinhold LOPATKA, Chair of the Delegation, concluded a three-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today, following meetings in Riyadh and Jeddah. The visit marked the 18th Interparliamentary Meeting between the European Parliament and the Shura Council of the Kingdom. In the name of the Delegation, Reinhold LOPATKA stressed that "we came to Saudi Arabia to listen and to understand how our partners read this moment, and to advance a strategic partnership between the European Union and the Gulf that recent events have made more necessary than ever. In times of heightened tension, parliamentary diplomacy has a particular value: it builds confidence, and it helps each side understand not only the other's position, but the reasons behind it."

The delegation held talks with the leadership of the Shura Council and with members of the friendship group with the European Parliament. It also met government ministers responsible for foreign affairs, the economy, energy and investment, the President of the Human Rights Commission, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and representatives of the European business community. In Jeddah, the delegation visited the Islamic Port, which was an occasion for the first assessment of the renewed geopolitical tension in the area.

The visit took place at an inflection point for EU-Saudi and EU-GCC relations, and against the backdrop of the gravest regional crisis in recent times. Members expressed the delegation's full solidarity with the Kingdom and its people, who since late February have faced repeated missile and drone attacks against civilian sites, airports and oil facilities. They condemned Iran's indiscriminate attacks without reservation, stressing that the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is wholly unacceptable, and called for full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

Members underlined that freedom of navigation is non-negotiable and a cornerstone of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They stressed the urgency of restoring safe and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and welcomed the Kingdom's consistent advocacy of adherence to international law.

Chairman Lopatka stressed: "Europe's renewed focus on defense is tied to its interest in working more closely with Saudi Arabia on regional security, including efforts to protect commercial shipping and keep trade routes open."

Members underlined the European Union's readiness to elevate the bilateral relationship, notably through a Strategic Partnership Agreement, including a people-to-people dimension. Members also took note on the Saudi side interest related to a visa waiver and enhanced trade ties. On energy and climate, Members noted the natural complementarity between the two sides and welcomed the technical exchanges under way. They took note of the Kingdom's commitment to net zero by 2060 and of the Saudi Green Initiative, and saw valuable prospects for cooperation on hydrogen, water resilience, climate adaptation and coral regeneration. They also discussed the human rights situation and acknowledged the progress on Labour rights. On the parliamentary dimension, MEP Lopatka said: "A partnership between governments and a partnership between our societies are complementary , and it is through parliamentary cooperation that we can further enrich the relationship. The Strategic Partnership Agreement would give our inter-parliamentary dialogue a durable institutional form. Eighteen interparliamentary meetings are a record of real substance - and a foundation on which we can be ambitious. We would like to further advance also the regional parliamentary cooperation with GCC counterparts, as in today's challenging world only together we can address them better. Thus, to look forward to deepening our cooperation in the run up of the upcoming EU GCC summit."

The MEPs that took part in this visit are: Reinhold LOPATKA, Chair of the Delegation (Austria), Abir AL-SAHLANI, Vice-Chair (Sweden), Daniel FREUND, Vice-Chair, (Germany), and Hana JALLOUL MURO, Member (Spain).