"It is with great pleasure that, following the invitation of H.E. Speaker Al-Kharafi last April in Brussels, I am representing the European Parliament at this official visit to the State of Kuwait, a country of great importance and potential," she said in statements to the Kuwait news agency, KUNA, Thursday.
" Following the recent developments in Arab countries of the Mediterranean region, it seems imperative, now more than ever, to further solidify the Euro-Arab relations on a bilateral and multilateral level and I am certain that Kuwait has a dynamic role to play in this respect," stressed the Greek Member of the European Parliament.
" It is important to open up further channels of communication between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council in order to ensure the creation of structural links and increase our economic and political cooperation for a better future of our people. I am positive that my visit to Kuwait will constitute a milestone step in this direction", she noted.
Kratsa said this visit is realized in continuation of the constructive relations between the two Parliaments following the official visit of Speaker of National Assembly of Kuwait Jassim Mohammed Al-Kharafi to the European Parliament in Brussels last April.
Kratsa sid she is scheduled to meet the Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamed Al-Sabah, the Speaker of the National Assembly H.E. Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al-Kharafi and the Minister of Finance Mr. Mustafa Al-Shamali in order to discuss the prospects of closer political and economic bilateral cooperation between the European Union and the State of Kuwait.
Her visit is also aimed at giving new impetus to the Euro-Arab cooperation and the suspended negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council, she added. The EU parliamentarian is also expected to meet with the Chairman and members of the Foreign Affairs and the Women Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Kuwait.
Kratsa, who is responsible also for Euro-Mediterranean relations and the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) will also meet with Director of Kuwait University Dr. Abdullatif Al Bader in order to explore possibilities for academic cooperation with European and Mediterranean institutions. Finally, she is scheduled to pay a visit to Failaka island, due to the common historic links with her country Greece , where she will be presented the ongoing development projects.
