EU-GCC Relations and the Risk of Irrelevance

Ever since the launch of the multilateral framework at the end of the 1980s, EU-GCC relations have experienced many ups and downs, although a marked downward trend has most recently kicked in. Within the framework of new regional circumstances following the outbreak of the Arab uprisings, EU-GCC relations run the risk of becoming totally irrelevant. This is due to growing polarization within the GCC itself and the emergence of (so far competing) EU-Iran relations despite still existing obstacles. Taking stock of what has been achieved and of the strategic motivations to work together on a number of dossiers is of utmost importance to be able to re-launch EU-GCC relations on more solid grounds.