Saudi economy minister holds talks with EU officials

18/09/2025 04:01 AST

Saudi-EU ties have been further strengthened after the Kingdom's minister of economy and planning held a range of high-level meetings with leading figures from the institution.

Faisal Al-Ibrahim met European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno in Belgium on Sept. 17 to discuss enhancing collaboration between the Kingdom and the EU on key areas of mutual interest, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The minister also held talks with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica aimed at boosting cooperation across several sectors and reviewing developments of mutual interest, and with EU Special Representative for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations.

A day earlier, Al-Ibrahim met European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis to discuss bilateral cooperation within the framework of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and recent global economic developments.

In July, the EU announced a ?42.5 billion ($46.4 billion) commitment to renewable energy, border security, and socio-economic development across the Middle East and North Africa from 2028.

The funding, aimed at fostering stability and mutual prosperity, opens further opportunities for Saudi-EU collaboration, particularly in renewable energy and sustainable development initiatives aligned with Vision 2030.

In October, the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit was held in Brussels, marking a historic moment with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending.

In May 2024, the European Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia was launched, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Arab News