The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should endorse new areas and forms of cooperation that benefit both parties. There is a gap between the level of cooperation mandated by the existing intra-institutional agreements and what is implemented in practice, leaving room for a range of other action areas and, consequently, unexploited benefits. The 1989 EU-GCC Cooperation Agreement (1), the  Joint Action Programme 2022-2027 (2), and the Summit of last October (3) all aspired for a comprehensive set of areas for cooperation, ranging from security and environment to digital transition.

In practice, although relations took a positive turn over the last couple of years, they currently remain focused on the highest governmental levels without being fully reflected in a diversified and balanced economic partnership. For instance, EU exports to GCC countries are diversified, but the same cannot be said for the region’s imports. Fuels and mining products still make up the majority of GCC exports to the EU (4). This article proposes a concrete action plan to develop cross-regional digital cooperation to face common challenges. Digital technologies are used here interchangeably with new technologies, which cover, among others, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Metaverse (incl. VR and AR), and Blockchain.

The Importance of Harmonising Standards

The current economic revolution is fuelled by a set of socio-economic and political challenges due to both existing fragile structures and newly created weaknesses by digital technologies. Considering the borderless nature of these innovations, international and regional collaborations are crucial in efficiently and collectively addressing the issues posed, especially by AI, big data, and quantum computing. Collaboration is also paramount to co-enable a safe, inclusive, and robust transformation across all sectors.

This is one of the common goals the EU and the GCC can collaborate upon, aligning with the listed objectives of the 1989 Cooperation Agreement  and Joint Action Programme (2022-2027). Harmonising governance frameworks and standards of the development and use of digital technologies is paramount to examining regional differences, possibly conforming industry practices, and accommodating continuous trade between the two regions.

Coordinating the AI Governance Mechanisms Across the Regions

AI has emerged as one of the most debated technologies in recent years, despite its existence since the 1950s. The GCC can consider signing the newly promulgated Council of Europe’s AI Treaty, where the EU, the UK, and the US are signatories.(5) This treaty promotes the rule of law, democratic values, and human rights in designing, developing, and using AI systems–core values listed under the GCC MSs’ digital and AI strategies of the GCC countries. In this context, the EU Special Representative for the Gulf could coordinate a series of meetings between the DG CONNECT Commission group, the AI Office, or CEN, and the GCC Standardisation Organisation to discuss, explore, and implement options to harmonise AI standards, especially with the EU AI Act requirements.

The coordination of parliamentary exchanges between the European Parliament’s (EP) and GCC Member States’ parliamentary groups interested in sharing expertise on data and AI policymaking–beneficial in the scope of product liability, consumer protection, and IP rights. The process of standards harmonisation needs to consider both parties’ inputs, especially that regional contexts, cultures, and ecosystems have to be addressed and regulated comprehensively to ensure a sustainable cooperation benefiting all societies.

Strengthening the EU-Gulf Data Governance Cooperation

Data is the fuel of AI systems and has become an element of sovereignty. For states, data sovereignty means the establishment of norms and frameworks governing data management at the national level, ensuring the protection of privacy rights, endorsing robustness, and promoting the rule of law in collecting, processing, and transmitting data.(6) Both regions already have data regulations, ranging from personal data protection and privacy laws to open data policies.(7) Policymakers became more aware of their role in the data governance supply chain, making it a strategic topic. This awareness was translated into enforced protection of personal data, oversight of sensitive information, and local accessibility to these datasets and data centres. For example, the Common European Data Space (CEDS) aims to develop a single European data market across nine domains as an effort to strengthen European data sovereignty.(8)

Collectively strengthening data accessibility can also be a valuable collaboration between the EU and GCC. The aim is to enhance open access practices, increase citizen accessibility to data, and standardise data collection, management, and governance processes. Knowing that these goals align between GCC and EU MSs, exchanging lessons learned and expertise between the two regions would enable a stronger and faster achievement of these goals. Such discussions would also be held within the EU Foreign Council of Development, considering the nature of the collaboration.

Cybersecurity can also be a key component of this discussion, especially in the age of quantum computing and the rising risks associated with this technological advancement. Both regions could invest in a monitoring mechanism to ensure continuous coordination on the latest technical tools to face cybersecurity challenges, as well as an established channel to instantly alarm in the event of incidents.

Conclusion

Overall, the current geopolitical context represents a pivotal opportunity for the GCC and the EU to enhance their collaboration across multiple sectors, particularly in the realm of digital technologies. By addressing existing gaps and fostering new avenues for cooperation, both parties can unlock substantial benefits that promote sustainable economic growth and innovation.

Business Forums and trade shows offer another valuable platforms for SMEs and startups to connect with counterparts, get instant feedback, and extend their operations in new regions. However, to translate these actions into increased trade exchange and foreign digital investment, the two regions must harmonise their laws and standards to enable interoperability, legality, and usability of new technologies.