Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

Changedon the relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia

(2025/2082(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 205-222 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Removed– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 18 May 2022 on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf (JOIN(2022)0013), and to the Council conclusions of 20 June 2022 thereon,

Added– having regard to its previous resolutions on Saudi Arabia, in particular those of 25 October 2018 on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul1, of 11 February 2021 on the humanitarian and political situation in Yemen2 and of 8 July 2021 on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, notably the cases of Mustafa Hashem al-Darwish and Abdullah al-Howaiti3,

Added– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 18 May 2022 on a strategic partnership with the Gulf (JOIN(2022)0013), and to the Council conclusions of 20 June 2022 thereon,

– having regard to the Council mandate for opening negotiations for individual Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs) with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)) and respectively the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,

Changed– having regard to the joint statement from the European Union-Gulf Cooperationfirst CouncilEU-GCC Summitsummit of 16 October 2024,

Removed– having regard to the recommendation for a Council Decision concerning new negotiating directives for a regional free trade agreement and for bilateral free trade agreements with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and respectively the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,

Added– having regard to the joint statement from the 29th Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting between the GCC and the EU of 6 October 2025,

Removed– having regard to the fourth EU-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Human Rights Dialogue held in Riyadh on 20 December 2024,

Added– having regard to the recommendation for a Council decision concerning new negotiating directives for a regional Free Trade Agreement and for bilateral Free Trade Agreements with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and respectively the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of the United Arab Emirates (COM(2025)0194),

Removed– having regard to the United Nations Group of Experts’ Report of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2025/169),

Added– having regard to the cooperation arrangement between the European External Action Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed on 3 October 2021,

Added– having regard to the fourth EU-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Human Rights Dialogue, held in Riyadh on 20 December 2024,

Added– having regard to the EU global human rights sanctions regime, established in December 2020,

Added– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in 2004 and revised in 2008,

Added– having regard to the report of the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names of 8 April 2025 on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2025/169/CRP.169),

Added– having regard to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 18 December 1979,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2025),(A10-0230/2025),

Change 1

ChangedA. whereas Saudi Arabia is a key bilateral and regional partner for the EU; whereas it is important to deepen this cooperation towards a strategic partnership that aims to strengthen bilateral relations and promote cooperation in various sectors, including defence, culture and innovation, but above all energy;

Change 2

ChangedB. whereas Saudi Arabia is the EU’s 17th largest17th-largest trading partner globally, and the EU is Saudi Arabia’s largest foreign investor;

Change 3

RemovedC. whereas Saudi Arabia is expanding its role as a regional broker and international player;

AddedC. whereas, over the last decade, Saudi Arabia and China have deepened their ties in the framework of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ project, and Saudi Arabia has become the largest recipient of China’s Belt and Road Initiative investments, including investments in strategic infrastructure such as ports and digital networks; whereas China has been the main purchaser of Saudi crude oil since 2019; whereas Saudi Arabia and China enhanced cooperation in the areas of foreign policy, security, energy, trade and technology through the establishment of a High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC), as well as subcommittees, in 2016;

AddedD. whereas Saudi Arabia is strengthening its relations with India, notably through the project entitled the ‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’ (IMEC), which aims to improve connectivity between Asia and Europe through the Arabian peninsula;

AddedE. whereas Saudi Arabia is further consolidating its status as a trusted regional mediator and key global actor, and it is crucial that it does so in full adherence to and promotion of human rights and international law;

AddedF. whereas there is an ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v Israel), filed by South Africa on 29 December 2023;

G. whereas Saudi Arabia is enhancing dialogue and cooperation with the EU on human rights;

Change 4

AddedH. whereas promoting respect for human rights and international law in foreign policy, including trade, is a treaty obligation for the EU, enshrined in Articles 3 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union;

AddedI. whereas the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has, in its October 2024 findings on Saudi Arabia, expressed concerns regarding entrenched discriminatory practices, harassment of female activists and the broader impact of punitive measures, including the use of the death penalty;

AddedJ. whereas the next EU-GCC summit, set to take place in Riyadh in 2026, will be key to further broadening the scope of EU-Saudi Arabian relations and enhancing cooperation on crucial issues of mutual interest;

EU-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations

Change 5

Changed1. Highlights the positive engagement between the EU and the GulfGCC, Cooperationas Counciltwo of the leading actors in the enlarged Mediterranean, during the EU-Gulffirst CooperationEU-GCC Councilsummit summit;in 2024; affirms that the EU aims to boost bilateral ties with each Gulf Cooperation CouncilGCC partnercountry through SPAs that would address the current lack of a legally binding framework for bilateral relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia, unlocking the potential for areas of deeper and broader cooperation in areascooperation, such as security,foreign trade,and energy,security policy, justice and law enforcement, trade and investment, energy and climate, research,digital transformation, environment, research and innovation, artificial intelligence, connectivity, digital governance, education, culture, research, youth and people-to-people contact;contact, and for securing human rights and labour rights reforms in GCC countries;

Change 6

Changed2. HighlightsWelcomes Saudithe Arabia’salignment and cooperation withbetween Saudi Arabia and the EU in the fieldsfield of foreign and security policy;

Change 7

Changed3. WelcomesUnderlines the potential for further EU-Saudi Arabia economic collaboration in the area of sustainable energy, critical raw materials, information technology,technology and entrepreneurship, noting that economic cooperation between the EU and Saudi Arabia is the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship; calls for increased EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation in these areas; supports Saudi Arabia’s compliance with EU legislation on due diligence when engaging in economic or business deals involving companies owned by or affiliated with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund;

Change 8

Added4. Stresses that deepening EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation in energy and trade should enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy by diversifying, in the short term, reliable energy supply sources; underlines that while Saudi Arabia remains a key global actor in fossil energy markets, it has also embarked on a path of diversification and sustainability, with investments in renewable energy, notably large-scale solar and hydrogen projects; notes that Saudi Arabia now ranks among the world’s top 10 energy storage markets, further advancing its leadership in renewable energy; highlights that harnessing Saudi Arabia’s vast solar energy potential, together with the EU’s advanced renewable technologies, can enable joint initiatives in green hydrogen, sustainable fuels and next-generation energy infrastructure;

5. Reaffirms that the EU is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of socio-economic diversification and reform, including the promotion of sustainable development;

Change 9

Removed5. Reaffirms that the EU remains committed to advancing a safe, mutually beneficial visa-free travel arrangement with the five remaining GCC countries, so as to ensure equal treatment of them;

Added6. Reaffirms that the EU remains committed to advancing a safe, mutually beneficial, visa-free travel arrangement with the five remaining GCC countries, so as to ensure equal treatment of them, which could be assessed in the context of the new EU visa strategy; notes the significant economic importance of Saudi Arabian tourists for the EU Member States, particularly in supporting key sectors such as hospitality, retail and cultural industries; underlines that Saudi citizens do not present a source of irregular migration pressure4, and therefore invites the Commission and the Member States to consider the introduction of a Schengen visa waiver once the cascade is granted to facilitate tourism, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and further strengthen economic and cultural ties between the EU and Saudi Arabia;

Added7. Calls for the EU to further facilitate regulatory cooperation, which will aid Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish rules and procedures for successful energy diversification and socio-economic reform; encourages stronger partnerships between EU and Saudi Arabian educational and research entities, including via programmes such as Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe; stresses the importance of creating the necessary conditions for increased student mobility; highlights how enhancing exchange opportunities for young people will significantly contribute to consolidating the relationship between the EU, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region as a whole;

Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy priorities and opportunities for the EU

Change 10

Changed6.8. WelcomesStresses Saudi Arabia’s growing importance as a diplomatic actor contributingand its significant contributions to internationalregional and global stability, particularly in the context of Israel’s military operationoperations in GazaGaza, as well as duringwith regard to recent developments in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, the Red Sea and Sudan;

Change 11

Removed7. Calls for stronger foreign and security cooperation in the light of regional escalations; highlights that both the joint communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and the future SPA have called for stronger cooperation in political and security fields;

Added9. Calls for stronger foreign and security cooperation in the light of regional escalations; highlights that both the joint communication on a strategic partnership with the Gulf and the future SPA have called for stronger political and security cooperation; stresses that such cooperation must be based on a shared commitment to respect international law, including human rights, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter; expresses its support for the Council’s July 2025 decision authorising the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to commence negotiations on the establishment of an SPA with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; recognises that this initiative represents a pivotal opportunity to advance the EU’s strategic interests, foster regional stability, and enhance cooperation in the areas of energy and security; calls for strong and active engagement by both parties throughout the negotiation process, with a view to ensuring its swift and timely conclusion; stresses that the EU’s enhanced cooperation with Saudi Arabia should also serve to strengthen shared commitments to peace and stability, and to safeguard the multilateral rules-based system;

Removed8. Calls on Saudi Arabia to continue EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation on counterterrorism and prevention of radicalisation;

Added10. Highlights the important diplomatic role of Saudi Arabia, notably in supporting de-escalation in Yemen, strengthening maritime security in the Red Sea, hosting talks on Ukraine and facilitating dialogue on Sudan, thereby contributing constructively to regional and international stability;

Removed9. Acknowledges Saudi Arabia’s efforts to encourage de-escalation in relation to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, its support for humanitarian assistance, and its calls for a ceasefire and the release of hostages;

Added11. Calls on Saudi Arabia to continue EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation on counterterrorism and the prevention of radicalisation, which must be conducted in line with international human rights standards; stresses the importance of far-reaching EU-Saudi Arabia alignment in these fields;

Removed10. Commends Saudi Arabia’s sustained engagement on Syria, including regional consultations aimed at stabilisation and post-conflict recovery; stresses the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Syria;

Added12. Acknowledges Saudi Arabia’s efforts to encourage de-escalation in relation to Israel’s military operations in Gaza; recalls its position expressed in its resolution of 11 September 2025 on Gaza at breaking point: EU action to combat famine, the urgent need to release hostages and move towards a two-state solution5, and welcomes the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the two-state solution of 29 July 2025, and its endorsement by the UN General Assembly on 12 September 2025;

Removed11. Reaffirms the EU’s support for Lebanon’s political and socio-economic reconstruction and highlights the importance of EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, and promoting the disarmament of Hezbollah, while condemning Israel Defense Forces attacks;

Added13. Acknowledges the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and certain other Arab States to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords; calls for the EU to support initiatives aimed at building broad regional and international backing for a better future in Arab-Israeli relations within the EU framework of the accepted two-state solution, in order to promote regional stability;

Removed12. Recognises Saudi Arabia’s constructive approach amid the current regional tensions, through its path towards diplomatic normalisation with Iran, and highlights the shared EU-Saudi Arabian stance against Iranian proxies and the development of an Iranian nuclear programme;

Added14. Commends Saudi Arabia’s substantial diplomatic and financial outreach to Syria, including through regional consultations, as well as broader stabilisation and reconstruction efforts; calls on Saudi Arabia and its partners in the region to assist the transitional Syrian Government in establishing a durable and inclusive political and security architecture; stresses the importance of preserving Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the participation and protection of Syria’s minorities; calls for enhanced cooperation between the EU and Saudi Arabia to work towards a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria and to protect Christians and all communities in Syria, guaranteeing their safety and religious freedom, as well as the protection of their cultural heritage;

Removed13. Highlights the shared EU-Saudi Arabian priority of establishing lasting peace in Yemen, and commends Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to achieving an inclusive political solution in Yemen;

Added15. Reaffirms the EU’s support for Lebanon’s political and socio-economic reconstruction and highlights the importance of EU-Saudi Arabian cooperation in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces; welcomes the efforts by the Lebanese Government and calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament; reiterates the importance for all the countries of the region to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while calling on all parties to safeguard the peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL);

Removed14. Welcomes the UN brokered Riyadh roadmap talks in January 2025, which yielded progress on Houthi disarmament timelines; notes that these remain contingent on Saudi Arabian economic assistance;