Consultation: Business survey on the Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in support of Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the EU and the GCC countries

European Commission · 2026-06-16 · EU · verified record

Details - Status - Open - Opening date - Deadline - Department - Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security - Country or region - Gulf region - Trade topics - Trade policy Target audience Business, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), chambers of commerce, investors, and other stakeholders with practical experience in trade and investment relations with GCC countries. You may submit your input by replying to the questionnaire - EU Survey (questionnaire) addressed to business stakeholders and other interested parties. Why we are consulting The European Commission has been authorised by the Council to negotiate trade agreements with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Future agreements with the GCC countries could take the form of either a regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA), bilateral FTAs and bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs) with each GCC state that can encompass trade, investment, and related regulatory cooperation. A bilateral free trade agreement negotiation with the United Arab Emirates is underway. These efforts are supported by a Sustainability Impact Assessment, to analyse the potential economic, social, human rights, and environmental impacts of EU trade agreements under negotiation. To this end, business/MSMEs and other stakeholders with direct experience in exporting, investing, operating, or providing services in GCC markets are invited to participate in this survey.…