MEnbar is a podcast by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) that offers diverse insights and research-based discussions on policy relevant topics in the Middle East and North Africa region. Hosted by Marc Owen Jones.
Podcast Episode: EU-GCC Towards a Strategic Partnership
In this special episode of MEnbar, recorded on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Omar Rahman welcomes the EU Special Representative Ambassador Luigi De Maio for the Gulf region to discuss the growing strategic partnership between the European Union and Gulf countries. The conversation explores how recent regional and global crises have reshaped the EU’s expectations and engagement in the Gulf and how Europe aims to expand its political and security influence in the region. It also examines the EU and GCC countries’ cooperation on Gaza, Europe’s role in regional conflicts involving Iran and its neighbors, and the opportunities for deeper diplomatic and economic cooperation.