On relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia
A-10-2025-0230
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Hana Jalloul Muro
- Voted on · Adopted 417–131–108 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2025/2082
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
This resolution on EU-Saudi Arabia relations calls for a strategic partnership, deeper cooperation in energy, trade, security, and human rights, and supports negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement.¶¶¶ It welcomes Saudi Arabia's reforms and regional role, urges progress on human rights, including abolishing the death penalty and releasing detainees, and calls for visa-free travel for Saudi citizens.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a resolution that supports deepening EU-Saudi relations through a Strategic Partnership Agreement, while urging human rights reforms and regional cooperation.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Saudi Arabia to provide a legally binding framework for bilateral relations, covering areas like foreign policy, trade, energy, and human rights.¶¶
- Urges increased cooperation in sustainable energy, critical raw materials, and technology, and supports Saudi compliance with EU due diligence laws.¶¶
- Invites the Commission and member states to consider a Schengen visa waiver for Saudi citizens once the cascade is granted, to boost tourism and exchanges.¶
- Calls for stronger foreign and security cooperation, including on counterterrorism, maritime security in the Red Sea, and regional stability, based on international law.¶¶¶
- Welcomes Saudi Arabia's diplomatic efforts in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and Ukraine, and urges support for a two-state solution and sanctions against Russia.¶¶¶
- Calls on the EU and member states to recognise the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, following Saudi Arabia's classification.¶
- Welcomes Vision 2030 reforms, including women's rights progress, but notes challenges remain in personal status law and workers' rights.¶¶¶
- Urges Saudi Arabia to meet climate commitments, including net zero by 2060 and 50% renewable electricity by 2030, and to produce clean hydrogen.¶
- Calls for human rights conditions in the SPA negotiations, including ratification of core conventions and release of unjustly imprisoned individuals.¶
- Condemns the escalation of executions, calls for a moratorium, and urges decriminalisation of same-sex sexual activity.¶
- Calls for the release of detained activists and human rights defenders, and for Saudi Arabia to review its terrorism definition.¶
- Urges full implementation of the 2025 abolishment of the Kafala system and guarantees of workers' rights to strike and collective bargaining.¶
Who is affected
- Saudi Arabia: subject to calls for reforms in human rights, labour, and energy, and for cooperation in security and diplomacy.¶¶¶
- EU institutions: asked to negotiate SPA, consider visa waiver, and monitor human rights progress.¶¶¶
- Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia: targeted by calls for better protections and investigation of deaths.¶¶
- Women in Saudi Arabia: affected by calls to continue reforms and address legal inequalities.¶
Figures and deadlines
- More than 345 executions in 2024 in Saudi Arabia.¶
- Over half of all executions in 2025 have been of foreign nationals.
- Saudi Arabia pledged to reach net zero by 2060 and produce 50% of electricity from renewables by 2030.¶
- Saudi Arabia plans to produce four million tonnes of clean hydrogen annually by 2030.
- Youth unemployment fell from 35.01% in 2006 to 16% in 2023.¶
- Women's workforce participation rose to 36%, and they own 45% of SMEs and 17% of all enterprises.¶
- Over 5,400 registered civil society associations in Saudi Arabia.¶
Legal basis: Articles 205-222 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶