GCC-EU free trade talks to resume soon

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah hinted that the GCC and EU free trade agreement would be inked in the near future. "Consultations between the GCC Secretariat-General and the European Union on concluding the free trade agreement are going on," he said

"What is now progressing are not negotiations but only consultations to resume negotiations toward signing the much-awaited free trade agreement," Al Attiyah said.

Addressing a press conference after holding talks with visiting German Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Al Attiyah said the two sides started studying the proposal to solve outstanding issues put forward by Sweden.

"The discussions I had recently with the Swedish Trade Minister in Stockholm Eva B, whose country holds the EU presidency, have had a positive impact on trade and economic relations between the GCC and EU, especially with regard to the free trade agreement," Al Attiyah said.