"In Europe and the Gulf, we share a genuine wish to work much more together and to build bridges," European Council President Charles Michel said.
"We are partners with aligned interests," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told journalists, adding he hoped the discussions would help bring about a cease-fire in the Middle East.
"Peace will normally come when reasonable people sit around the table, and we know that many of the Gulf countries have been facilitators in that, and I would hope that we continue to join forces."
Human rights issues were also expected to be part of the agenda, officials said, with Saudi Arabia's participation drawing criticism given the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Collection
[
|
...
]