Press statement by President António Costa following his meeting with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan 18:30 European Council President[...]

During my first visit as President of the European Council to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, I was honoured to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

The UAE are an important and reliable partner for the EU: for the prosperity, stability and security of both our regions and beyond. The EU is committed to strengthening bilateral relations through trade, political dialogue and security.

We also discussed global challenges and in particular the situation in Gaza. We agreed that the focus must now firmly be on the swift and full implementation of President Trump's peace plan.

I thanked His Highness for his personal leadership and his country's crucial role in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza and helping to alleviate human suffering. The EU stands ready to play its part, contributing to Gaza's reconstruction.

We also had a good exchange on Ukraine. The UAE have played a key role in providing humanitarian assistance and facilitating prisoner exchanges. I informed His Highness of the EU's efforts in support of President Trump's initiative and we agreed that a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine is our common goal.