Highlights from the inaugural Convening
Senior leaders from Europe and the Gulf met in Greece from May 15-17, 2026 for private discussions on geopolitics, economic resilience, energy, supply chains, defense, technology, and investment, setting out next steps for continued cooperation. The Europe Gulf Forum was hosted by Antenna Group in partnership with the Atlantic Council.
Video highlights
UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash on Europe-Gulf cooperation and the impact of the Iran war
inflection points dialogues
EUROPE AND THE GULF: Key Indicators
€225 bn
Annual combined trade in goods between Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations
€451 bn
Combined bilateral foreign direct investment stock between the EU and GCC
47
Nations in the Combined Maritime Forces protecting Gulf shipping lanes
ABOUT THE EUROPE GULF FORUM
The Europe Gulf Forum brings together heads of state, prime ministers, policymakers, senior investors, and business leaders to inform policymaking; enhance consensus on global geopolitical challenges; strengthen economic relations between the regions; and advance cross-border investments across key sectors of the economy.
As relations between European and Gulf countries deepen, there is a vital need to support opportunities in trade, investment, security, government relations, and regional cooperation. The Europe Gulf Forum is designed to unleash the largely untapped strategic and economic potential between Europe and the Gulf, transforming complementary strengths into structured, long-term cooperation and alignment.
Co-Chairs
Theodore Kyriakou
Chairman,
Antenna Group
“The Europe Gulf Forum is founded on the idea that business has a vital role to play in bringing Europe and the Gulf closer together. For us, alliances are not only about capital or business—they are about unlocking the potential that comes when leadership and vision converge. This summit is designed to break the mold of international convenings by prioritizing action and accountability. Our vision is a results-driven platform that will leave a measurable impact long after the delegates have left the room.”
Fred Kempe
President and CEO,
Atlantic Council
“This initiative is designed to reinforce the bonds between Europe and the Gulf, enabling both regions to thrive at a time of profound global transition. Through dialogue, they are demonstrating a shared resolve not only to unlock new avenues of investment and innovation, but also to forge the resilience and strategic cooperation needed to bring Europe and the Gulf closer together to build peace, trust, and prosperity across both regions.”
Strategic Themes
Re-energizing an EU–GCC relationship
EU–GCC trade reached €161.7 billion in 2024, down 5 percent from the previous year.
Even as European and GCC states increasingly see the world through similar lenses—favoring trade, technology, and supply-chain diversification, the energy transition, and regional stability—they have struggled to turn those shared frameworks into joint execution.
Integrating tech and AI supply chains
GCC adoption of generative AI use cases could generate up to $35 billion annually, or 2.8 percent of non-oil GDP.
Europe brings regulatory credibility and knowledge, whereas the Gulf economies bring surplus liquidity, energy, and by extension the resources required to meet the massive energy and fiscal demands of AI.
Aligning investment and industrial policy
EU–GCC FDI flows into manufacturing remain modest—less than 2 percent of total bilateral investment.
Success will hinge on building shared manufacturing ecosystems that match European innovation with Gulf capital and energy-cost advantages.
Revitalizing stalled trade negotiations
The EU is the GCC’s second-largest trading partner, while the GCC ranks ninth for the EU.
New trade opportunities—whether EU-GCC or between single states in both regions—signal to investors and external powers that trans-regional openness still has political support.
Establishing connectivity corridors
Nearly 20 percent of global goods trade transits through the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Gulf sea lanes each year.
Europe and Gulf nations sit at the heart of global transport, energy, and data networks, yet remain more connected through middle powers than to one another.
Deepening security and defense cooperation
Europe accounts for roughly 20 percent of Gulf arms imports.
Maritime stability in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Strait of Hormuz underpins global energy and goods flows—particularly for the geographically linked regions of Europe and the Gulf.
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Events
Costa Navarino, Greece
The inaugural Europe Gulf Forum brought together more than twenty European and Gulf leadership world leaders, including six heads of government, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and the president of the European Central Bank. The Forum strengthened critical diplomatic ties, advanced shared priorities for strategic capital deployment, and promoted a roadmap for greater regulatory coordination between Europe and the Gulf.
United Nations General Assembly
Each fall, the Europe Gulf Forum’s co-chairs will convene a small group from both Europe and the Gulf to continue discussions started at the Forum and chart the course for the year to come. These gatherings will be held in New York City on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Related Content
About Antenna Group
Antenna Group, founded in 1988 and fully owned by the Kyriakou family’s K Group, is a leading international media, content, and entertainment organization with investments spanning Europe, North America, and Australia. Its portfolio includes 37 television channels, streaming services, and diversified assets across production, digital media, live events, and education, reaching more than 140 million people directly worldwide. Antenna is also an investor in major global media and technology companies, with a long-standing track record of innovation and growth.
Explore the program
Through our Middle East Programs, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.
The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.
Frederick Kempe on the inaugural Europe Gulf Forum