EGIC celebrates 10 years of success

 ROME – The Euro-Gulf Information Centre (EGIC) celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an afternoon reception to mark a fruitful decade of building relations between Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on Oct. 29 at Hotel de Russie, Rome.

 The audience was addressed by an assortment of high-level representatives including H.E. Dr Shaikh Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and H.E. Luca Ciriani, Minister of Relation with Parliament of the Italian Republic. Among the audience were ambassadors, generals, Vatican representatives, business leaders and politicians all who praised the work of the Centre.

 EGIC was founded in 2015 by the Centre’s President, Mitchell Belfer, with the hopes of building and strengthening relations between Europe and the Gulf States. Ten years ago, the relationship between Europe and the Gulf States was defined by more shallow interactions — primarily driven by oil sales. Since then, much has changed.

 The journey from 2015 to 2025 has been one replete with many challenges for all involved, from security related issues such as the war on Daesh in Syria and Iraq, and, more recently, Gaza to facing the 2020 COVID pandemic. EGIC and similar organisations have made important contributions to consolidating relations between the two regions despite many trials and tribulations.

 As a testament to the success of EGIC, several high-profile speakers were present. Both the keynote speakers — Shaikh Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa from Bahrain and Luca Ciriani from Italy, praised EGIC’s success in forging positive relations between Europe and the Gulf and talked highly of developments yet to come between the GCC and Europe in all areas from trade to cultural understanding, which has been a priority for EGIC.

 Not only was the evening one of celebration of the EGIC, but it was also a celebration of the contributions that small think tanks and businesses make to the world of diplomacy and foreign relations.

 Matthew Robinson, the Director of EGIC (and the MC for the event) concluded the session and shared hopes for at least another 10 years of successful and transformative relations between Europe and the GCC and the excitement of doing it as a team.

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