May MED dialogues – Doha forum regional initiative bridging stability: EU-GCC cooperation in an era of fragmentation

As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape the international landscape, dialogue between Europe and the Gulf has become more urgent than ever.

On 7 May 2026, MED Dialogues and Doha Forum will host a high-level conversation on the future of relations between European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), featuring Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; President, CIPR, and Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, moderated by Maria Cuffaro, journalist at RAI and Paolo Magri, President Advisory Board at ISPI

Set against a backdrop of renewed instability across the wider Middle East, the discussion will examine the political, strategic, and diplomatic challenges facing both the GCC and the EU, while exploring avenues for stronger cooperation between the two blocs in the areas of security, crisis management, energy, and trade. Particular attention will be devoted to the implications of the current crisis for the Gulf, the Levant, and the maritime domain, as well as to the joint strategies that could help foster resilience and support post-conflict stabilisation.

The event will be held in English.