UAE and EU can work closer to promote peace in the region, envoy says
▶ Relationship between two sides holds vast untapped potential, Lucie Berger tells John Dennehy
The relationship between the EU and the UAE holds vast untapped potential, a diplomat has said. Lucie Berger, the EU’s ambassador to the Emirates, said the possibilities for co-operation are enormous and she wants to achieve “tangible results” during her tenure.
While commemorating Europe Day on Thursday, Ms Berger spoke to The National on issues such as Gaza, climate change and priorities during her time here as envoy.
“It is a privilege to be here,” said Ms Berger. “The potential for collaboration is so big and I’m really excited to spend hopefully four years and leave some tangible results behind.”
The UAE is the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The volume of goods traded between the two sides last year reached €55 billion ($59.2 billion) while trade in services accounted for €20 billion.
Ms Berger said she was committed to bolstering this strong relationship.
“The EU has so much more to offer,” she said. “I would like to build the image of the EU as an important and reliable partner in areas such as climate, sustainable energy, digitalisation, humanitarian aid and development, but also security and regional stability.”
Talks over a free-trade agreement between the EU and the GCC are under way. Ms Berger said there was still a “lot of willingness” to explore efforts to unlock the deal at a regional level, adding that “shifts in the region” had been noted.
Exploratory talks could take place by the summer but the framework would have to be modernised to consider the “completely different” economy of 2024, she said.
Ms Berger said it was also possible for the EU and the UAE to explore a free-trade pact parallel to the GCC’s.
“We also want to explore the bilateral relationship with the UAE,” she said.
The relationship can be complementary to a regional agreement, she added.
“I personally think that we could explore it even if there is a negotiation of a GCC free trade agreement,” she said, adding that such decisions are ultimately in the hands of the member states.
Turning to Gaza, Ms Berger praised the UAE’s role in delivering humanitarian aid.
“It is an example for many to follow,” she said.
“What I see is that we [EU and UAE] have become natural partners in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
She said she wants to see this grow and perhaps extend to other regions.
The UN and other aid organisations say the situation in Gaza is dire amid Israeli restrictions and a possible offensive on Rafah.
Ms Berger said it was her understanding there was an agreement to resume the delivery of vital aid through the maritime corridor and the World Central Kitchen non-profit – which only resumed work in Gaza last week, less than a month after seven of its workers were killed – intends to be part of it.
“This is really great news but it is in no way to replace land crossings,” the envoy said.
Ms Berger said the EU and UAE can collaborate more broadly to help bring “peace and stability” not only to Gaza but other conflict zones.
The EU recently announced $1 billion in aid to Lebanon and Ms Berger said the growing tension in the Middle East is a stark reminder that so-called frozen or low intensity conflicts “risk exploding sooner or later in intense violence if not meaningfully settled”.
Climate change has been a major part of Ms Berger’s career, with her most recent role overseeing all trade negotiations related to climate action and the adoption of climate measures in trade policy at the European Commission. Asked whether the energy from Cop28 can continue, she said: “Definitely. The momentum is there to stay.”
The EU and the UAE, she said, could work together to deliver finance outcomes at Cop29 in Azerbaijan that make an impact.
On perceptions of the bloc abroad, Ms Berger, from the Czech Republic, said the “EU has changed my life completely.”
She was able to study abroad and pursue a career as a diplomat because of the opportunities from the EU membership process that were not available to those older than her.
Ms Berger said Europeans “like to criticise things, which is part of our process of improving things” but there is so much that is taken for granted.
Some have speculated there could be a surge in support for far-right groups in the June elections for the EU Parliament on the back of protests against immigration.
In April, European politicians approved a revamped migration system that aims to tackle this. But Ms Berger said she is optimistic about the bloc’s future.
“The politicians change. Sometimes there are some narratives that appear and disappear,” she said. “But at the end of the day, we continue going on this more or less same trajectory.”
This year also marks a decade since the EU’s diplomatic presence in the UAE started as the EU continues to boost its ties in the country.
When asked if the EU and UAE understand each other, she said “yes” but added there is always scope to communicate better particularly in getting the message across that the 27-member bloc is not only about trade.
“We’re seen as complicated and difficult to navigate and to be fair, we could do much better in communicating about our added value,” she said.
Ms Berger arrived in the UAE in September and while she expected it to be busy, she has found the intensity of the job is on “another level”. Is there one area in which she would really like to make a difference?
“Peace and regional stability are so needed.
“We’re a peace project, a very successful peace project,” she said, referring to the EU and how it managed to rebuild after the Second World War.
“We don’t talk about it enough [but] that’s a huge success story.”
She highlighted the EU’s maritime mission organised to address growing instability in the Red Sea as an example of the bloc’s commitment to regional peace and security.
“There is still a lot of ‘let’s wait and see’ kind of approach because it’s an EU operation,” she said. “I think a lot comes down to communicating and being very clear where the added value is.”
Ms Berger said concern was growing regionally and globally about Iran despite the EU’s support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the 2015 nuclear deal. The agreement was signed between Iran and world powers, before the US withdrew three years later.
The EU will play its part to try to bring about regional stability, the ambassador said.
“If we are to build a stable and sustainable relationship with Iran, we have to rely on the knowledge and experience of the Gulf countries.”
The path ahead, then, is filled with potential despite the all-consuming nature of the job that frequently sees her in the office all day, constantly at airports, along with the small matter of caring for her young daughter.
“I choose jobs that I’m very passionate about.” But she said she must try to switch off for her daughter at times.
“I bring my daughter sometimes to the receptions,” she said, with a chuckle.
“She is very popular. So, I find these small tricks, every now and then, that make it workable [to bring my daughter to official events].”
It is an example for many to follow. What I see is that we [EU and UAE] have become natural partners in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza