Cooperation Council for the Arab States
of the Gulf
Dr Khalil Hussein
Professor at faculty of law at Lebanese university
Director of studies at Lebanese Parliament
Introduction
On 25th May 1981, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, State of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where they reached a cooperative framework joining the six states to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection among the Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity, according to article 4 of the GCC Charter. Article 4 also emphasized the deepening and strengthening of relations, links and areas of cooperation among their citizens. The underpinnings which are clearly provided for in the preamble of the GCC Charter, confirm the special relations, common qualities and similar systems founded on the creed of Islam, faith in a common destiny and sharing one goal, and that the cooperation among these states would serve the sublime objectives of the Arab nation. The decision was not a product of the moment but an institutional embodiment of a historical, social and cultural reality. Deep religious and cultural ties link the six states, and strong kin relations prevail among their citizens. All these factors, enhanced by one geographical entity extending from sea to desert, have facilitated contacts and interaction among them, and created homogeneous values and characteristics.
Therefore, while, on one hand, the GCC is a continuation, evolution and institutionalisation of old prevailing realities, it is, on the other, a practical answer to the challenges of security and economic development in the area. It is also a fulfilment of the aspirations of its citizens towards some sort of Arab regional unity
The Concept and Foundations
The GCC Charter states that the basic objectives are to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields, strengthening ties between their peoples, formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, administration, as well as fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, establishing scientific research centres, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private sector.
The Organizational Structure
Firstly: The Supreme Council is the highest authority of the GCC formed of the Heads of Member States. Its presidency rotates according to the Arabic alphabetical order of the names of Member States. It convenes one regular session every year. However, extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of any Member State seconded by another. In 1998, during the 19th summit held in Abu Dhabi, the Supreme Council decided to hold a consultative meeting in between two summits every year. Meetings of the Supreme Council are considered valid if attended by two-thirds of the Member States, at which each has one vote. Resolutions on substantive matters are issued by unanimous approval of the members present, while a majority is enough to approve those of procedural nature.
The Consultative Commission: Formed of thirty GCC citizens (five from each Member States) chosen according to their experience and qualification for a period of three years. The Consultative Commission is charged with studying matters referred to it by the Supreme Council. Commission for the Settlement of Disputes: Formed by the Supreme Council for every case on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with the nature of the dispute.
Secondly: The Ministerial Council is composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or other ministers acting on their behalf. Presidency of the Ministerial Council is entrusted with the Member State that presided the last ordinary session of the Supreme Council, or when necessary, with the Member State that is next to preside the Supreme Council. The Ministerial Council convenes every three months, and may hold extraordinary meetings upon the request of one Member State seconded by another.A meeting is considered valid if attended by two-thirds of the Member States.
Among other jurisdictions, the Ministerial Council is authorised to propose policies, lay out recommendations, and encourage and coordinate the already existing activities in all fields. Resolutions adopted by other ministerial committees are referred to the Ministerial Council, which in turn would refer the relevant matters, along with appropriate recommendations, to the Supreme Council for approval. The Ministerial Council is also charged with arranging the Supreme Council meetings and preparing their agenda. Procedures of voting are similar to those applicable at the Supreme Council.
Thirdly: The Secretariat-General is charged, among other functions, with preparing studies related to cooperation, co-ordination, and integrated plans and programmes for joint work. It is also entrusted with the preparation of periodic reports on the work of the GCC, follow up implementation of the resolutions, prepare reports and studies when requested by the Supreme Council or the Ministerial Council. The Secretariat also makes preparation for meetings and prepare the agendas and draft resolutions for the Ministerial Council.
The Organizational body of the Secretariat-General is comprised of the following:
- A Secretary-General appointed by the Supreme Council for a period of three years renewable only once.
- Three Assistant Secretaries-General for political, economic and military affairs, as well as the head of the GCC delegation to Brussels, who are appointed by the Ministerial Council for three renewable years, upon nomination of the Secretary-General.
- Directors-general of the Secretariat-General sectors as well as other staff that are appointed by the Secretary-General. The administrative structure of the Secretariat General consists of a number of sectors: Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, Military Affairs, Human and Environment Affairs, Legal Affairs, Office of the Secretary-General, Finance and Administrative Affairs, Patent Bureau, Administrative Development Unit, Internal Auditing Unit, and Information Centre, in addition to the GCC Delegation in Brussels and the Telecommunications Bureau in Bahrain.
Areas of Cooperation
ForeignPolicy Coordination of foreign policy is an important aspect of cooperation within the GCC. The preamble of the GCC Charter provides that "Having the conviction that coordination, cooperation and integration between them serve the sublime objectives of the Arab Nation; … and in order to channel their efforts to reinforce and serve Arab and Islamic causes, the Member States agreed to establish the Gulf Cooperation Council". The Charter also states that the Supreme Council is the authority entitled to "approve the bases for dealing with other states and international organisations."
The GCC provides a number of instruments and channels of consultation and coordination of external policies at various levels, such as GCC summits and periodic Ministerial Council meetings, as well as meetings held on the margin of Arab and international gatherings, meetings of GCC representatives abroad, international conferences, in addition to other multilateral and bilateral channels.
Many factors have contributed to facilitate and further coordination and unification of GCC political stances, and helped formulate a common foreign policy towards many basic issues. These given factors are pivoted around the fact that the Member States of the GCC represent a socially and politically homogeneous structure, in principle and in perspective, and that they all share the same historical experience and are linked by one geographical area and common boundaries. These factors have also contributed to generate close, if not identical, perceptions of the outside world.
Furthermore, all this have been strengthened by the GCC Member States' adoption of sublime principles in dealing with international issues, based on the Charter of the United Nations, abiding by the rules of international conduct, respecting their Arab and international obligations, adhering to the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect of sovereignty, non-acquisition of others' land by force, respect of others' sovereignty over their resources, and observance of negotiation as an effective instrument for settlement of disputes, in line with the principles of peaceful co-existence as declared by the United Nations and confirmed by international laws.
In practice, the GCC has been able to achieve many successes in the field of foreign affairs. In brief, these successes are manifested in the formulation of a homogeneous Gulf stance towards political and security issues of interest at regional, Arab and international levels. During the few years after its establishment, the GCC has proved that it is able to act collectively and effectively through diplomatic channels, as during the invasion of the State of Kuwait. The GCC, also, has dealt, as one group, with the whole world by proposing identical points of view and negotiating the common interests of its members with other countries and international organisations. Military Cooperation
Based on their conviction about the connected nature of their security and that an aggression against any one of them is deemed an aggression against all of them, cooperation in the military field has received the attention of the GCC states. Such conviction stems from the facts of geopolitics and faith in one destiny. Moreover, the security challenges in an unstable regional environment, like the Gulf area, imposes on the GCC States coordination of their policies and mobilization of their capabilities. The GCC States seek to build up their defence forces according to a common conception. In this context, they have unified operational procedures, training, and military curricula. They also endeavour to accomplish compatibility of their military systems. Moreover the armed forces of the GCC States carry out joint military exercises with the Peninsula Shield Force, as well as joint air and sea manoeuvres.
Among the important achievements in the military field is the creation of the Peninsula Shield Force in 1982, which incorporates the credibility of the GCC will. Another important achievement was the resolution taken during Kuwait summit in 1997, which entailed to link the GCC Member States with a military communication network for early warning.
Security Cooperation
Security cooperation aims at enhancing coordination among the Member States to reach an integral state among their security institutions. In 1987, GCC States approved the Comprehensive Security Strategy as a general framework for security cooperation and coordination between them. Furthermore, GCC States concluded a security agreement in 1994. Cooperation in security is multidimensional. It encompasses the fields of traffic, punishment and correction establishments, immigration and passports, airport security, anti-drug trafficking, anti-arms and explosives smuggling, border guards, coast guards, and civil defence. Specialised committees have been formed to strengthen cooperation in these fields. The most important achievement in this regard is the repeal of entry visas and residence permit requirements for the GCC citizens travelling to other GCC Member States.
In pursuance of approximating and unifying procedures and systems, GCC Member States approved a number of unified systems and rules regarding traffic, civil defence, anti-drug trafficking, arms and explosives, punishment and correction establishments, naturalization, and border and coast guards.
Legal Cooperation
In order to effect one of the most important goals provided for in the GCC Charter, GCC Member States have sought to lessen differences between their regulations and laws paving the way towards total unification. To that end, and since 1982, they have agreed that Islamic Sharia is the only source for legislations and jurisprudence in Member States. They have also worked to consolidate relations between their legislative institutions and deepen links between their judicial bodies. In 1995, the GCC approved an agreement on the execution of judgements, appointments of attorneys, and serving of legal notices. In 1996, Muscat Instrument for a Unified Personal Law for the GCC was ratified. Kuwait Instrument for the Unified Civil Law and Doha Instrument of the Unified Penal Code were both ratified in 1997.
Economic Cooperation
General Framework:
Economic cooperation is considered as one of the basic pillars of joint work in the GCC. The broad goal is to move from cooperation and coordination to advanced stages of economic integration. In an endeavour to fulfil this goal, the GCC States laid down a comprehensive framework for economic cooperation. Such approach is manifested in the Unified Economic Agreement, which was ratified in 1981. In 1983, the GCC Member States set up a free trade zone, according to which the goods of national origin have become exempted of customs tariffs. This is the first stage in the process of economic integration. GCC States are now on the threshold of setting up a customs union. Riyadh summit in 1999 approved a timetable to set up such union effective March 2005. Although the customs union represents the second stage of economic integration, however, the GCC has already advanced in great strides in the fulfilment of the third stage, which is the initiation of a Gulf Common Market. Such a goal entails the free movement of goods and abolishing of barriers to the movement of elements of production, especially people and capital.
The resolutions of fulfilment of Gulf economic citizenship are major steps in the way towards the common market, and constitute a considerable part of the achievements attained within the objectives of the Unified Economic Agreement. The Unified Economic Agreement stipulates equal treatment of GCC citizens in respect of freedom of movement, work, residence, engaging in economic activities, movement of capital, and ownership of real estate. Some of the achievements that have been realised include practice of retail and wholesale trade, ownership of shares and real estates, engaging in different professions and economic activities such as agriculture
industry, contracting, animal resources, establishment of hotels and restaurants, establishment of training centres, and obtaining loans from industry development funds and banks in the GCC States. Such implementations have paved the way for setting up the Gulf Common Market.
In addition, GCC States have made good progress in the sphere of unifying their economic policies. Indeed, a number of instruments relevant to the objectives and policies of the development plans have been ratified, as well as Joint Agricultural Policy, Unified Industrial Development Strategy, the General Framework of the GCC Population Strategy, and the Long-Term Comprehensive Development Strategy 2000-2025. With respect to linking GCC infrastructures, the Member States seek to accomplish the first phase of linking high voltage electricity grids. They also endeavour to complete the direct land route, the network of communications, and the Gulf network of ATM. The Unified Economic Agreement stresses the establishment of GCC joint projects in industry, agriculture and services, using public, private or mixed capital, in order to achieve economic integration with productive interface, and common development on sound economic bases. The Unified Economic Agreement also encourage the private sector to set up joint projects linking the economic interests of the citizens in all fields. Within this framework, a number of joint projects in industry, insurance, airline services, animal and fisheries were set up. In the field of joint institutions, the GCC set up the Gulf Investment Corporation based in Kuwait with a capital of US$2.1 billion, Standardization and Metrology Organisation for GCC in Riyadh, Technical Telecommunication Bureau in Bahrain, Commercial Arbitration Centre for GCC in Bahrain, Regional Committee for Electrical Energy Systems registered in Qatar, and Electricity Grids Linking Commission based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. In the field of approximation and unification of procedures and regulations, GCC Member States approved a long list of obligatory and guiding rules in all spheres such as agriculture, water resources, ports, oil, agencies and trademarks, patents, foreign investments, practice of auditing and accountancy, insurance, telecommunications, and the encouragement of joint ventures. In the domain of developing collective positions and unified representation, GCC Member States coordinate their trade policies and relations with other economic blocks in order to create and guarantee equal bases and conditions in trade relations. In an endeavour to attain that objective, as provided for in the Unified Economic Agreement, the GCC launched negotiations with major trading partners and came to sign the Cooperation Agreement between GCC Member States and the European Economic Community in 1988. At present, negotiations are ongoing with the European Union to reach a free trade agreement. Moreover, the GCC is involved in an economic dialogue with the United States of America. Industrial Cooperation
GCC States coordinate their industrial activities by laying down proper policies and suggesting means that would lead to effect industrialization of the Member States on an integral basis. This is achieved by unifying their industrial regulations and legislations, and distributing industries all over the Member States by encouraging the establishment of basic projects according to the comparative economic advantages. In working out to fulfil this objective, the GCC States ratified the Unified Industrial Development Strategy aiming at the realization of an industrial development based on complementary bases, as well as increasing the contribution of the industrial sector in the gross national product. In an effort to support these objectives, the Unified Economic Agreement exempted all industrial products of GCC national origin from customs duties and other similar charges. Commercial Cooperation
The objectives of commercial cooperation, in short, are to abolish customs barriers among GCC States and exempt national products from customs duties. Other major objectives include unification of customs tariffs, and to coordinate export and import policies and create a collective negotiating position. Pursuant to these objectives, the GCC Member States set up a free trade zone among them since 1983. They are now close to entering the stage of a customs union. In 1999, a timetable to establish a customs union between them by March 2005 was approved. The GCC States have become a collective negotiation force either in their endeavour to liberalise trade with the European Union, or in coordinating their export/import policies. The GCC promotes cooperation among Members States by laying down plans, programmes and projects that would ultimately realise their commercial strategy and encourage cooperation between their private sectors through the Union of Gulf Chambers of Commerce. The GCC also unified a number of trade regulations such as the Unified Guiding Regulation of Commercial Agencies, the Model Regulation of Trade Marks, the Unified Law of Commerce, the Unified Commercial Registry Law, and the Unified Law of Customs. Another major achievement in this connection is the resolution permitting import and export of GCC national products without a local agent. GCC citizens are also permitted to practice retail and wholesale trade in any Member State. Cooperation in the field of Oil and Gas
Having reserves of 45% and 14% of the total world reserves of oil and gas, respectively, cooperation in this field has been accorded the consideration it is due. The objectives are to coordinate policies at all stages of oil industry and to adopt a unified oil policy and position in the international markets. Moreover, measures are taken to avoid harmful competition, achieve maximum return, and secure the stability of these markets. In 1987, the Supreme Council approved the Regulation of Oil Lending between the Member States. It aims at consolidating with any Member State that may suffer from a break down of oil producing or transporting installations that prevent it from meeting its obligations towards other parties for a period exceeding one month, with the rate of damage reaching 30% of the quantity of oil planned to be exported by the concerned Member State. In 1988, the Supreme Council also approved the Regional Emergency Plan of Petroleum Products, which aims at assisting any Member State encountering shortage in petrochemicals.
Cooperation in Electricity and Water
The Unified Economic Agreement asserts that Member States shall coordinate and establish infrastructure projects, including power stations and water desalination plants, in order to attain joint economic development and link the existing economic activities. Linking of high voltage electricity grids is considered one of the most important projects of linking infrastructures in GCC Member States. The Member States work to implement the first stage of the project in accordance with the resolution taken in Kuwait Summit in 1997. The first stage covers the State of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. Besides, cooperation in this vital field includes rationalization of electric energy and water consumption, unification of electricity and water standards and specifications, operation and maintenance, training, and exchange of information.
Cooperation in Finance and Monetary Affairs
In the field of finance and monetary cooperation, the GCC aims at coordinating policies related to investment in order to reach a common investment policy that would direct domestic and foreign investments to meet the aspirations of the citizens of the GCC in development and progress. It is also designed to unify banking and monetary regulations and laws, as well as increase coordination between monetary agencies and central banks, including the initiation of one currency in order to further economic integration. A major accomplishment in this regard is the resolution taken by Kuwait Summit 1997, which permits national banks to open branches in GCC Member States. The resolution is intended to develop the banking sector and increase its competitiveness, both regionally and internationally. The GCC also established the Gulf Network of the National ATM Networks, and approved the Centrality of Risks Law, the Efficiency of Capital and Risks of Assets Law, and the Credit Concentration in GCC Banks Law. In order to effect unified representation, the GCC Member States agreed to collectively participate in the meetings of Basel Committee and international conferences of banks, as well as to coordinate over the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In the field of investment, the GCC established the Gulf Investment Corporation, based in Kuwait, in 1982. The objective is to support and develop GCC economic and finance resources. However, with respect to approximating and unifying procedural systems and laws, GCC Member States endorsed the Model Regulation for the Promotion of Foreign Investment in the GCC. Cooperation in Agriculture and Water GCC States work to unify their policies, systems and laws, as well as to establish joint projects in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, animal-stock and water resources. They endeavour to accomplish food security by taking the optimum benefit of the available natural resources. The GCC ratified the Common Agricultural Policy, in addition to a number of other regulations related to preserving water resources, exploitation and protection of fishery resources, agricultural quarantine, veterinarian quarantine, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, registration of medicines, veterinarian medications, seeds, seedlings, and forests and pastures.
Cooperation in Transportation and Communication
Cooperation in this field includes marine, land and air transportation and communication. GCC States also coordinate in setting up infrastructure projects, such as seaports, airports, and highways along with fostering those establishments that already exist in the Member States. Joint work in this area also covers coordination of air navigation policies and air transport at various levels. GCC States agreed to accord passenger and cargo means of transportation belonging to citizens of any Member State, transiting or entering its territories, the same treatment accorded to means of passenger and cargo transportation belonging to their own citizens, including exemption from all duties and taxes. The GCC States also agreed to allow steamers, ships and boats and their cargos belonging to any Member State to freely use the various port facilities and grant them the same treatment and privileges granted to their own similar means. National carriers (national airlines) are also permitted to sell directly in the Member States without the need for general agents or local sponsors. Cooperation in the field of planning and development
The Unified Economic Agreement stresses achieving coordination and harmonization with respect to the development plans of the Member States, with a view to attaining economic integration among them.
In order to accomplish this objective, GCC States work to lay down strategies and mechanisms to enhance economic and social integration among them, make development plans at regional level, link infrastructures, increase the private sector's contribution to economic development, as well as transfer and domesticate technology.
In an endeavour to effect equilibrium on the structure of population and labour force, the GCC approved, in 1998, the General Framework of Population Strategy. In the same year, the GCC also approved the Long-Term Comprehensive Development Strategy 2000-2025, which aims at achieving a sustainable and integral development at all levels in the Member States and coordinating the national development plans. Cooperation in the field of science and technology
The GCC States stress the importance of cooperation in this field. The Charter stipulates that one of the basic objectives is to prompt scientific and technical progress in the fields of industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, as well as establishment of scientific research centres. The Unified Economic Agreement makes clear that the objective behind such cooperation is to achieve a genuine local base founded on support and encouragement of research, applied sciences, and technology. Moreover, it refers to adapting imported technology to meet the needs of the region and the objectives of progress and development. The Unified Economic Agreement also indicates that the objectives of joint work in this sphere is to establish procedures, make arrangements and lay down terms for the transference of technology, as well as to conclude joint agreements with foreign governments and scientific or commercial organisations.
To this effect, GCC States work to coordinate the policies and programmes of scientific and technical research and establish joint programmes and centres covering the various scientific and technical spheres. In this respect, a patent regulation was ratified and the GCC Patent Office was established. Cooperation in the field of human resources The joint work in this field aims at laying down plans, programmes, and projects at national and regional levels in order to optimise the utilization of available human resources through nationalisation of jobs in the public sector, replacement of non-national labour force in the private sector, development of public administration, training and development of labour force, and promotion of relevant rules and laws. The GCC States also coordinate their positions towards various issues of civil service and labour in relevant international gatherings. One of the remarkable achievements in this field is the resolution taken by the Supreme Council in 1993, regarding extending equal treatment to the citizens of the GCC Member States employed in the private sector in any Member State. In 1995, the Supreme Council issued another resolution directed at facilitating the employment and movement of national labour force all over GCC Member States. Policies, plans, and procedures were also adopted to ease employment of national labour force and to curb employment of non-nationals. The GCC ratified a number of unifying regulations regarding civil service and labour affairs, such as the Model Regulation of Civil Service, the Directory for Expatriate Recruitment (refer to: 'Executive Bureau of the Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs Council of the GCC'). Cultural Cooperation The GCC seek to uplift joint cultural activities, as well as in every Member State, and respond collectively to cultural developments in the world. In recent years, with rapid cultural globalisation due to progress in telecommunication technology, there has been a significant flow of information from advanced countries to the developing countries. The need has become more pressing for joining efforts to tackle such mounting cultural influx, useful and harmful. In fulfilment of GCC objectives in this field, and in order to face the challenges of all forms, the Supreme Council during its 8th session held in 1987, approved the General Cultural Development Plan, the main aim of which is to convert the fragmented status of cultural activities into an integral whole. Moreover, a number of regulations were approved such as the Unified Regulation of Copyright, and the Unified Agreement between GCC Member States and Foreign Expeditions Working in the field of Archaeological Excavation to protect literary and artistic rights, as well as to maintain the ancient monuments of the Member States.
Cooperation in the field of Health
GCC States work to strengthen cooperation in the field of health by adopting joint projects, holding meetings and symposiums, and carrying out researches and studies. According to the Supreme Council resolutions taken in 1988, GCC citizens, residents and visitors, are entitled to enjoy the facilities rendered by health centres, clinics, and public hospitals in any Member State. Since 1994, citizens of the GCC, natural or legal, have been allowed to take on business activities in the field of health, including private hospitals, private infirmaries, treatment of the disabled, sports medicine, psychiatry, and medical labs. They have also been permitted to practise medicine and pharmacology all over the Member States.
Cooperation in Educatio
Cooperation in education aims at achieving coordination and integration, as well as making the best use of available capacities and resources through laying down plans, designing policies, and adopting joint programmes and projects. To realise these ends, GCC States have worked to unify the objectives of education. They began by unifying the curricula, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science. Considerable strides were actually made in this direction. Through the educational process, GCC States could establish close and intimate relations among their citizens. They have strengthened the affiliation of the GCC students by educating them about their common heritage, in addition to implementing common topics in the Arabic language and social sciences textbooks at all educational stages. In support of educational cooperation, the GCC Member States established the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States based in Riyadh, and the Arab Centre for Educational Research of the Gulf States, based in Kuwait.
In 1985, GCC Member States endorsed a general framework for the joint educational work as represented by the document on Goals and Means to Realize the Role of Education in Achieving Development and Integration in the GCC. During the Abu Dhabi Summit in 1998, the GCC adopted a resolution towards developing the curriculum and promoting their role to fulfil integration and to meet the developmental needs of the Member States. In order to achieve educational equality for all citizens, the GCC approved equal opportunities to students of the Member States in public, as well as higher education institutions, provided that priority resides with the students of the concerned Member State. Such equality includes fees, grants, medical care, and accommodation. The Supreme Council also approved the equalization of certificates and other educational documents issued by any Member State to those issued by other Member States. In addition, the Supreme Council allowed the citizens of any Member State to exercise business activities in the various fields of education, such as establishment of private schools, nursery schools, kindergartens, polyglots, computer training centres, and management. With respect to approximating legislations and regulations in higher education, GCC approved the criteria for contracting faculty at universities and other higher education institutions. Moreover, two bylaws regulating the exchange of faculty and university students were ratified. Cooperation in the social field
Cooperation in the social field aims at deepening social interconnection among citizens, and promoting various social services in the Member States such as social care, social security, social aid and social development in order to design a comprehensive social strategy for all the GCC. Due to the importance attached to this field, GCC Member States established the Executive Bureau of the Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs Council as a technical commission specialised in labour and social affairs. Other coordination committees were set up such as coordination committee for handling the affairs of the handicapped, and childhood coordination committee.
To further joint work in this field, GCC Member States have begun to approximate their social security and social aid regulations and laws, as a preparation to lay down a unified model legislation for rehabilitation and employment of the handicapped, as well as studying the actual position of childhood and how to promote the quality of the services rendered to it.
Environmental Cooperation
In view of the common developmental and environmental problems and conditions in GCC States, as a result of geographic proximity and similar level of development, the GCC adopted, in 1985, a strategic framework for environmental work at local and regional levels under the title of "General Policies and Principles for Environment Protection". It aims at formulating proper scientific formula to protect the environment and maintain the natural resources in a way that complies with the goals of comprehensive development and realizes the optimum benefit of available human and natural potentials of the Member States.
Moreover, GCC States act to unify all regulations, laws, and legislations that deal with the various aspects of the environment. These regulations, laws, and legislations represent the minimum requirements to enact national legislations. Within this framework, the GCC States ratified a number of regulations such as the Unified Regulation for Protection and Development of Wildlife, the GCC Environment Impact Assessment Regulation, the General Regulation of the Environment, the Unified Regulation for Handling Radioactive Materials, the Unified Regulation for Waste Recycling, and the Procedures of Transferring Hazardous Waste Through GCC Borders.
Cooperation in the field of Youth, Sports and Scouts
Youth, sports, and scouts activities are important in the incarnation of the spirit of collective work. They serve to realize common participations that implant citizenship and consciousness, as well as release the creative mental capacities towards a better future, as sought for by the GCC. In pursuance of achieving their objectives in this field, the GCC Member States approved in 1983 a framework for youth and sport joint work. The framework outlines the principles, bases, and starting points that govern the goals of youth and sport joint activities. Another framework for scouts' joint activities, stating the common bases of the relationship between the scout societies in the GCC Member States, was also approved. In an endeavour to realize equality in this field, the GCC States issued a resolution regarding equal treatment of all GCC citizens in benefiting from youth and sports facilities, such as sports centres and hospitals, and participation in friendly competitions that comply with international regulations and bylaws. Natural and legal citizens of the GCC are also allowed to practice business in the field of sport medicine.
Cooperation in the field of Information and Media
Media cooperation aims at unifying the information policies of the GCC States, in order to achieve a unified formula that takes into consideration the basic objectives of the GCC. The joint work in this field includes cooperation of broadcasts, TV stations, press, news agencies, and publishing. Through strengthening coordination and interconnection of information institutions, the GCC seeks to make possible for these institutions to accomplish their objectives toward the common well being of the citizens and the objectives of the GCC in general. Moreover, in 1986, the GCC approved the Media Code of Ethics, which asserts that the media of the Member States should seek objectivity in their activities of publishing and broadcasting. The Protocol also rejects agitating acts and personal defamation. Moreover, it provides support to the issues of development in the GCC.
In order to coordinate their activities abroad and effect that coordination between their information institutions and external information bodies, the GCC Member States approved the Directives on Information Work Abroad.
of the Gulf
Dr Khalil Hussein
Professor at faculty of law at Lebanese university
Director of studies at Lebanese Parliament
Introduction
On 25th May 1981, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, State of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar and State of Kuwait met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where they reached a cooperative framework joining the six states to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection among the Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity, according to article 4 of the GCC Charter. Article 4 also emphasized the deepening and strengthening of relations, links and areas of cooperation among their citizens. The underpinnings which are clearly provided for in the preamble of the GCC Charter, confirm the special relations, common qualities and similar systems founded on the creed of Islam, faith in a common destiny and sharing one goal, and that the cooperation among these states would serve the sublime objectives of the Arab nation. The decision was not a product of the moment but an institutional embodiment of a historical, social and cultural reality. Deep religious and cultural ties link the six states, and strong kin relations prevail among their citizens. All these factors, enhanced by one geographical entity extending from sea to desert, have facilitated contacts and interaction among them, and created homogeneous values and characteristics.
Therefore, while, on one hand, the GCC is a continuation, evolution and institutionalisation of old prevailing realities, it is, on the other, a practical answer to the challenges of security and economic development in the area. It is also a fulfilment of the aspirations of its citizens towards some sort of Arab regional unity
The Concept and Foundations
The GCC Charter states that the basic objectives are to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields, strengthening ties between their peoples, formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, administration, as well as fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, establishing scientific research centres, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private sector.
The Organizational Structure
Firstly: The Supreme Council is the highest authority of the GCC formed of the Heads of Member States. Its presidency rotates according to the Arabic alphabetical order of the names of Member States. It convenes one regular session every year. However, extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of any Member State seconded by another. In 1998, during the 19th summit held in Abu Dhabi, the Supreme Council decided to hold a consultative meeting in between two summits every year. Meetings of the Supreme Council are considered valid if attended by two-thirds of the Member States, at which each has one vote. Resolutions on substantive matters are issued by unanimous approval of the members present, while a majority is enough to approve those of procedural nature.
The Consultative Commission: Formed of thirty GCC citizens (five from each Member States) chosen according to their experience and qualification for a period of three years. The Consultative Commission is charged with studying matters referred to it by the Supreme Council. Commission for the Settlement of Disputes: Formed by the Supreme Council for every case on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with the nature of the dispute.
Secondly: The Ministerial Council is composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or other ministers acting on their behalf. Presidency of the Ministerial Council is entrusted with the Member State that presided the last ordinary session of the Supreme Council, or when necessary, with the Member State that is next to preside the Supreme Council. The Ministerial Council convenes every three months, and may hold extraordinary meetings upon the request of one Member State seconded by another.A meeting is considered valid if attended by two-thirds of the Member States.
Among other jurisdictions, the Ministerial Council is authorised to propose policies, lay out recommendations, and encourage and coordinate the already existing activities in all fields. Resolutions adopted by other ministerial committees are referred to the Ministerial Council, which in turn would refer the relevant matters, along with appropriate recommendations, to the Supreme Council for approval. The Ministerial Council is also charged with arranging the Supreme Council meetings and preparing their agenda. Procedures of voting are similar to those applicable at the Supreme Council.
Thirdly: The Secretariat-General is charged, among other functions, with preparing studies related to cooperation, co-ordination, and integrated plans and programmes for joint work. It is also entrusted with the preparation of periodic reports on the work of the GCC, follow up implementation of the resolutions, prepare reports and studies when requested by the Supreme Council or the Ministerial Council. The Secretariat also makes preparation for meetings and prepare the agendas and draft resolutions for the Ministerial Council.
The Organizational body of the Secretariat-General is comprised of the following:
- A Secretary-General appointed by the Supreme Council for a period of three years renewable only once.
- Three Assistant Secretaries-General for political, economic and military affairs, as well as the head of the GCC delegation to Brussels, who are appointed by the Ministerial Council for three renewable years, upon nomination of the Secretary-General.
- Directors-general of the Secretariat-General sectors as well as other staff that are appointed by the Secretary-General. The administrative structure of the Secretariat General consists of a number of sectors: Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, Military Affairs, Human and Environment Affairs, Legal Affairs, Office of the Secretary-General, Finance and Administrative Affairs, Patent Bureau, Administrative Development Unit, Internal Auditing Unit, and Information Centre, in addition to the GCC Delegation in Brussels and the Telecommunications Bureau in Bahrain.
Areas of Cooperation
ForeignPolicy Coordination of foreign policy is an important aspect of cooperation within the GCC. The preamble of the GCC Charter provides that "Having the conviction that coordination, cooperation and integration between them serve the sublime objectives of the Arab Nation; … and in order to channel their efforts to reinforce and serve Arab and Islamic causes, the Member States agreed to establish the Gulf Cooperation Council". The Charter also states that the Supreme Council is the authority entitled to "approve the bases for dealing with other states and international organisations."
The GCC provides a number of instruments and channels of consultation and coordination of external policies at various levels, such as GCC summits and periodic Ministerial Council meetings, as well as meetings held on the margin of Arab and international gatherings, meetings of GCC representatives abroad, international conferences, in addition to other multilateral and bilateral channels.
Many factors have contributed to facilitate and further coordination and unification of GCC political stances, and helped formulate a common foreign policy towards many basic issues. These given factors are pivoted around the fact that the Member States of the GCC represent a socially and politically homogeneous structure, in principle and in perspective, and that they all share the same historical experience and are linked by one geographical area and common boundaries. These factors have also contributed to generate close, if not identical, perceptions of the outside world.
Furthermore, all this have been strengthened by the GCC Member States' adoption of sublime principles in dealing with international issues, based on the Charter of the United Nations, abiding by the rules of international conduct, respecting their Arab and international obligations, adhering to the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect of sovereignty, non-acquisition of others' land by force, respect of others' sovereignty over their resources, and observance of negotiation as an effective instrument for settlement of disputes, in line with the principles of peaceful co-existence as declared by the United Nations and confirmed by international laws.
In practice, the GCC has been able to achieve many successes in the field of foreign affairs. In brief, these successes are manifested in the formulation of a homogeneous Gulf stance towards political and security issues of interest at regional, Arab and international levels. During the few years after its establishment, the GCC has proved that it is able to act collectively and effectively through diplomatic channels, as during the invasion of the State of Kuwait. The GCC, also, has dealt, as one group, with the whole world by proposing identical points of view and negotiating the common interests of its members with other countries and international organisations. Military Cooperation
Based on their conviction about the connected nature of their security and that an aggression against any one of them is deemed an aggression against all of them, cooperation in the military field has received the attention of the GCC states. Such conviction stems from the facts of geopolitics and faith in one destiny. Moreover, the security challenges in an unstable regional environment, like the Gulf area, imposes on the GCC States coordination of their policies and mobilization of their capabilities. The GCC States seek to build up their defence forces according to a common conception. In this context, they have unified operational procedures, training, and military curricula. They also endeavour to accomplish compatibility of their military systems. Moreover the armed forces of the GCC States carry out joint military exercises with the Peninsula Shield Force, as well as joint air and sea manoeuvres.
Among the important achievements in the military field is the creation of the Peninsula Shield Force in 1982, which incorporates the credibility of the GCC will. Another important achievement was the resolution taken during Kuwait summit in 1997, which entailed to link the GCC Member States with a military communication network for early warning.
Security Cooperation
Security cooperation aims at enhancing coordination among the Member States to reach an integral state among their security institutions. In 1987, GCC States approved the Comprehensive Security Strategy as a general framework for security cooperation and coordination between them. Furthermore, GCC States concluded a security agreement in 1994. Cooperation in security is multidimensional. It encompasses the fields of traffic, punishment and correction establishments, immigration and passports, airport security, anti-drug trafficking, anti-arms and explosives smuggling, border guards, coast guards, and civil defence. Specialised committees have been formed to strengthen cooperation in these fields. The most important achievement in this regard is the repeal of entry visas and residence permit requirements for the GCC citizens travelling to other GCC Member States.
In pursuance of approximating and unifying procedures and systems, GCC Member States approved a number of unified systems and rules regarding traffic, civil defence, anti-drug trafficking, arms and explosives, punishment and correction establishments, naturalization, and border and coast guards.
Legal Cooperation
In order to effect one of the most important goals provided for in the GCC Charter, GCC Member States have sought to lessen differences between their regulations and laws paving the way towards total unification. To that end, and since 1982, they have agreed that Islamic Sharia is the only source for legislations and jurisprudence in Member States. They have also worked to consolidate relations between their legislative institutions and deepen links between their judicial bodies. In 1995, the GCC approved an agreement on the execution of judgements, appointments of attorneys, and serving of legal notices. In 1996, Muscat Instrument for a Unified Personal Law for the GCC was ratified. Kuwait Instrument for the Unified Civil Law and Doha Instrument of the Unified Penal Code were both ratified in 1997.
Economic Cooperation
General Framework:
Economic cooperation is considered as one of the basic pillars of joint work in the GCC. The broad goal is to move from cooperation and coordination to advanced stages of economic integration. In an endeavour to fulfil this goal, the GCC States laid down a comprehensive framework for economic cooperation. Such approach is manifested in the Unified Economic Agreement, which was ratified in 1981. In 1983, the GCC Member States set up a free trade zone, according to which the goods of national origin have become exempted of customs tariffs. This is the first stage in the process of economic integration. GCC States are now on the threshold of setting up a customs union. Riyadh summit in 1999 approved a timetable to set up such union effective March 2005. Although the customs union represents the second stage of economic integration, however, the GCC has already advanced in great strides in the fulfilment of the third stage, which is the initiation of a Gulf Common Market. Such a goal entails the free movement of goods and abolishing of barriers to the movement of elements of production, especially people and capital.
The resolutions of fulfilment of Gulf economic citizenship are major steps in the way towards the common market, and constitute a considerable part of the achievements attained within the objectives of the Unified Economic Agreement. The Unified Economic Agreement stipulates equal treatment of GCC citizens in respect of freedom of movement, work, residence, engaging in economic activities, movement of capital, and ownership of real estate. Some of the achievements that have been realised include practice of retail and wholesale trade, ownership of shares and real estates, engaging in different professions and economic activities such as agriculture
industry, contracting, animal resources, establishment of hotels and restaurants, establishment of training centres, and obtaining loans from industry development funds and banks in the GCC States. Such implementations have paved the way for setting up the Gulf Common Market.
In addition, GCC States have made good progress in the sphere of unifying their economic policies. Indeed, a number of instruments relevant to the objectives and policies of the development plans have been ratified, as well as Joint Agricultural Policy, Unified Industrial Development Strategy, the General Framework of the GCC Population Strategy, and the Long-Term Comprehensive Development Strategy 2000-2025. With respect to linking GCC infrastructures, the Member States seek to accomplish the first phase of linking high voltage electricity grids. They also endeavour to complete the direct land route, the network of communications, and the Gulf network of ATM. The Unified Economic Agreement stresses the establishment of GCC joint projects in industry, agriculture and services, using public, private or mixed capital, in order to achieve economic integration with productive interface, and common development on sound economic bases. The Unified Economic Agreement also encourage the private sector to set up joint projects linking the economic interests of the citizens in all fields. Within this framework, a number of joint projects in industry, insurance, airline services, animal and fisheries were set up. In the field of joint institutions, the GCC set up the Gulf Investment Corporation based in Kuwait with a capital of US$2.1 billion, Standardization and Metrology Organisation for GCC in Riyadh, Technical Telecommunication Bureau in Bahrain, Commercial Arbitration Centre for GCC in Bahrain, Regional Committee for Electrical Energy Systems registered in Qatar, and Electricity Grids Linking Commission based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. In the field of approximation and unification of procedures and regulations, GCC Member States approved a long list of obligatory and guiding rules in all spheres such as agriculture, water resources, ports, oil, agencies and trademarks, patents, foreign investments, practice of auditing and accountancy, insurance, telecommunications, and the encouragement of joint ventures. In the domain of developing collective positions and unified representation, GCC Member States coordinate their trade policies and relations with other economic blocks in order to create and guarantee equal bases and conditions in trade relations. In an endeavour to attain that objective, as provided for in the Unified Economic Agreement, the GCC launched negotiations with major trading partners and came to sign the Cooperation Agreement between GCC Member States and the European Economic Community in 1988. At present, negotiations are ongoing with the European Union to reach a free trade agreement. Moreover, the GCC is involved in an economic dialogue with the United States of America. Industrial Cooperation
GCC States coordinate their industrial activities by laying down proper policies and suggesting means that would lead to effect industrialization of the Member States on an integral basis. This is achieved by unifying their industrial regulations and legislations, and distributing industries all over the Member States by encouraging the establishment of basic projects according to the comparative economic advantages. In working out to fulfil this objective, the GCC States ratified the Unified Industrial Development Strategy aiming at the realization of an industrial development based on complementary bases, as well as increasing the contribution of the industrial sector in the gross national product. In an effort to support these objectives, the Unified Economic Agreement exempted all industrial products of GCC national origin from customs duties and other similar charges. Commercial Cooperation
The objectives of commercial cooperation, in short, are to abolish customs barriers among GCC States and exempt national products from customs duties. Other major objectives include unification of customs tariffs, and to coordinate export and import policies and create a collective negotiating position. Pursuant to these objectives, the GCC Member States set up a free trade zone among them since 1983. They are now close to entering the stage of a customs union. In 1999, a timetable to establish a customs union between them by March 2005 was approved. The GCC States have become a collective negotiation force either in their endeavour to liberalise trade with the European Union, or in coordinating their export/import policies. The GCC promotes cooperation among Members States by laying down plans, programmes and projects that would ultimately realise their commercial strategy and encourage cooperation between their private sectors through the Union of Gulf Chambers of Commerce. The GCC also unified a number of trade regulations such as the Unified Guiding Regulation of Commercial Agencies, the Model Regulation of Trade Marks, the Unified Law of Commerce, the Unified Commercial Registry Law, and the Unified Law of Customs. Another major achievement in this connection is the resolution permitting import and export of GCC national products without a local agent. GCC citizens are also permitted to practice retail and wholesale trade in any Member State. Cooperation in the field of Oil and Gas
Having reserves of 45% and 14% of the total world reserves of oil and gas, respectively, cooperation in this field has been accorded the consideration it is due. The objectives are to coordinate policies at all stages of oil industry and to adopt a unified oil policy and position in the international markets. Moreover, measures are taken to avoid harmful competition, achieve maximum return, and secure the stability of these markets. In 1987, the Supreme Council approved the Regulation of Oil Lending between the Member States. It aims at consolidating with any Member State that may suffer from a break down of oil producing or transporting installations that prevent it from meeting its obligations towards other parties for a period exceeding one month, with the rate of damage reaching 30% of the quantity of oil planned to be exported by the concerned Member State. In 1988, the Supreme Council also approved the Regional Emergency Plan of Petroleum Products, which aims at assisting any Member State encountering shortage in petrochemicals.
Cooperation in Electricity and Water
The Unified Economic Agreement asserts that Member States shall coordinate and establish infrastructure projects, including power stations and water desalination plants, in order to attain joint economic development and link the existing economic activities. Linking of high voltage electricity grids is considered one of the most important projects of linking infrastructures in GCC Member States. The Member States work to implement the first stage of the project in accordance with the resolution taken in Kuwait Summit in 1997. The first stage covers the State of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait. Besides, cooperation in this vital field includes rationalization of electric energy and water consumption, unification of electricity and water standards and specifications, operation and maintenance, training, and exchange of information.
Cooperation in Finance and Monetary Affairs
In the field of finance and monetary cooperation, the GCC aims at coordinating policies related to investment in order to reach a common investment policy that would direct domestic and foreign investments to meet the aspirations of the citizens of the GCC in development and progress. It is also designed to unify banking and monetary regulations and laws, as well as increase coordination between monetary agencies and central banks, including the initiation of one currency in order to further economic integration. A major accomplishment in this regard is the resolution taken by Kuwait Summit 1997, which permits national banks to open branches in GCC Member States. The resolution is intended to develop the banking sector and increase its competitiveness, both regionally and internationally. The GCC also established the Gulf Network of the National ATM Networks, and approved the Centrality of Risks Law, the Efficiency of Capital and Risks of Assets Law, and the Credit Concentration in GCC Banks Law. In order to effect unified representation, the GCC Member States agreed to collectively participate in the meetings of Basel Committee and international conferences of banks, as well as to coordinate over the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In the field of investment, the GCC established the Gulf Investment Corporation, based in Kuwait, in 1982. The objective is to support and develop GCC economic and finance resources. However, with respect to approximating and unifying procedural systems and laws, GCC Member States endorsed the Model Regulation for the Promotion of Foreign Investment in the GCC. Cooperation in Agriculture and Water GCC States work to unify their policies, systems and laws, as well as to establish joint projects in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, animal-stock and water resources. They endeavour to accomplish food security by taking the optimum benefit of the available natural resources. The GCC ratified the Common Agricultural Policy, in addition to a number of other regulations related to preserving water resources, exploitation and protection of fishery resources, agricultural quarantine, veterinarian quarantine, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, registration of medicines, veterinarian medications, seeds, seedlings, and forests and pastures.
Cooperation in Transportation and Communication
Cooperation in this field includes marine, land and air transportation and communication. GCC States also coordinate in setting up infrastructure projects, such as seaports, airports, and highways along with fostering those establishments that already exist in the Member States. Joint work in this area also covers coordination of air navigation policies and air transport at various levels. GCC States agreed to accord passenger and cargo means of transportation belonging to citizens of any Member State, transiting or entering its territories, the same treatment accorded to means of passenger and cargo transportation belonging to their own citizens, including exemption from all duties and taxes. The GCC States also agreed to allow steamers, ships and boats and their cargos belonging to any Member State to freely use the various port facilities and grant them the same treatment and privileges granted to their own similar means. National carriers (national airlines) are also permitted to sell directly in the Member States without the need for general agents or local sponsors. Cooperation in the field of planning and development
The Unified Economic Agreement stresses achieving coordination and harmonization with respect to the development plans of the Member States, with a view to attaining economic integration among them.
In order to accomplish this objective, GCC States work to lay down strategies and mechanisms to enhance economic and social integration among them, make development plans at regional level, link infrastructures, increase the private sector's contribution to economic development, as well as transfer and domesticate technology.
In an endeavour to effect equilibrium on the structure of population and labour force, the GCC approved, in 1998, the General Framework of Population Strategy. In the same year, the GCC also approved the Long-Term Comprehensive Development Strategy 2000-2025, which aims at achieving a sustainable and integral development at all levels in the Member States and coordinating the national development plans. Cooperation in the field of science and technology
The GCC States stress the importance of cooperation in this field. The Charter stipulates that one of the basic objectives is to prompt scientific and technical progress in the fields of industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, as well as establishment of scientific research centres. The Unified Economic Agreement makes clear that the objective behind such cooperation is to achieve a genuine local base founded on support and encouragement of research, applied sciences, and technology. Moreover, it refers to adapting imported technology to meet the needs of the region and the objectives of progress and development. The Unified Economic Agreement also indicates that the objectives of joint work in this sphere is to establish procedures, make arrangements and lay down terms for the transference of technology, as well as to conclude joint agreements with foreign governments and scientific or commercial organisations.
To this effect, GCC States work to coordinate the policies and programmes of scientific and technical research and establish joint programmes and centres covering the various scientific and technical spheres. In this respect, a patent regulation was ratified and the GCC Patent Office was established. Cooperation in the field of human resources The joint work in this field aims at laying down plans, programmes, and projects at national and regional levels in order to optimise the utilization of available human resources through nationalisation of jobs in the public sector, replacement of non-national labour force in the private sector, development of public administration, training and development of labour force, and promotion of relevant rules and laws. The GCC States also coordinate their positions towards various issues of civil service and labour in relevant international gatherings. One of the remarkable achievements in this field is the resolution taken by the Supreme Council in 1993, regarding extending equal treatment to the citizens of the GCC Member States employed in the private sector in any Member State. In 1995, the Supreme Council issued another resolution directed at facilitating the employment and movement of national labour force all over GCC Member States. Policies, plans, and procedures were also adopted to ease employment of national labour force and to curb employment of non-nationals. The GCC ratified a number of unifying regulations regarding civil service and labour affairs, such as the Model Regulation of Civil Service, the Directory for Expatriate Recruitment (refer to: 'Executive Bureau of the Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs Council of the GCC'). Cultural Cooperation The GCC seek to uplift joint cultural activities, as well as in every Member State, and respond collectively to cultural developments in the world. In recent years, with rapid cultural globalisation due to progress in telecommunication technology, there has been a significant flow of information from advanced countries to the developing countries. The need has become more pressing for joining efforts to tackle such mounting cultural influx, useful and harmful. In fulfilment of GCC objectives in this field, and in order to face the challenges of all forms, the Supreme Council during its 8th session held in 1987, approved the General Cultural Development Plan, the main aim of which is to convert the fragmented status of cultural activities into an integral whole. Moreover, a number of regulations were approved such as the Unified Regulation of Copyright, and the Unified Agreement between GCC Member States and Foreign Expeditions Working in the field of Archaeological Excavation to protect literary and artistic rights, as well as to maintain the ancient monuments of the Member States.
Cooperation in the field of Health
GCC States work to strengthen cooperation in the field of health by adopting joint projects, holding meetings and symposiums, and carrying out researches and studies. According to the Supreme Council resolutions taken in 1988, GCC citizens, residents and visitors, are entitled to enjoy the facilities rendered by health centres, clinics, and public hospitals in any Member State. Since 1994, citizens of the GCC, natural or legal, have been allowed to take on business activities in the field of health, including private hospitals, private infirmaries, treatment of the disabled, sports medicine, psychiatry, and medical labs. They have also been permitted to practise medicine and pharmacology all over the Member States.
Cooperation in Educatio
Cooperation in education aims at achieving coordination and integration, as well as making the best use of available capacities and resources through laying down plans, designing policies, and adopting joint programmes and projects. To realise these ends, GCC States have worked to unify the objectives of education. They began by unifying the curricula, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science. Considerable strides were actually made in this direction. Through the educational process, GCC States could establish close and intimate relations among their citizens. They have strengthened the affiliation of the GCC students by educating them about their common heritage, in addition to implementing common topics in the Arabic language and social sciences textbooks at all educational stages. In support of educational cooperation, the GCC Member States established the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States based in Riyadh, and the Arab Centre for Educational Research of the Gulf States, based in Kuwait.
In 1985, GCC Member States endorsed a general framework for the joint educational work as represented by the document on Goals and Means to Realize the Role of Education in Achieving Development and Integration in the GCC. During the Abu Dhabi Summit in 1998, the GCC adopted a resolution towards developing the curriculum and promoting their role to fulfil integration and to meet the developmental needs of the Member States. In order to achieve educational equality for all citizens, the GCC approved equal opportunities to students of the Member States in public, as well as higher education institutions, provided that priority resides with the students of the concerned Member State. Such equality includes fees, grants, medical care, and accommodation. The Supreme Council also approved the equalization of certificates and other educational documents issued by any Member State to those issued by other Member States. In addition, the Supreme Council allowed the citizens of any Member State to exercise business activities in the various fields of education, such as establishment of private schools, nursery schools, kindergartens, polyglots, computer training centres, and management. With respect to approximating legislations and regulations in higher education, GCC approved the criteria for contracting faculty at universities and other higher education institutions. Moreover, two bylaws regulating the exchange of faculty and university students were ratified. Cooperation in the social field
Cooperation in the social field aims at deepening social interconnection among citizens, and promoting various social services in the Member States such as social care, social security, social aid and social development in order to design a comprehensive social strategy for all the GCC. Due to the importance attached to this field, GCC Member States established the Executive Bureau of the Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs Council as a technical commission specialised in labour and social affairs. Other coordination committees were set up such as coordination committee for handling the affairs of the handicapped, and childhood coordination committee.
To further joint work in this field, GCC Member States have begun to approximate their social security and social aid regulations and laws, as a preparation to lay down a unified model legislation for rehabilitation and employment of the handicapped, as well as studying the actual position of childhood and how to promote the quality of the services rendered to it.
Environmental Cooperation
In view of the common developmental and environmental problems and conditions in GCC States, as a result of geographic proximity and similar level of development, the GCC adopted, in 1985, a strategic framework for environmental work at local and regional levels under the title of "General Policies and Principles for Environment Protection". It aims at formulating proper scientific formula to protect the environment and maintain the natural resources in a way that complies with the goals of comprehensive development and realizes the optimum benefit of available human and natural potentials of the Member States.
Moreover, GCC States act to unify all regulations, laws, and legislations that deal with the various aspects of the environment. These regulations, laws, and legislations represent the minimum requirements to enact national legislations. Within this framework, the GCC States ratified a number of regulations such as the Unified Regulation for Protection and Development of Wildlife, the GCC Environment Impact Assessment Regulation, the General Regulation of the Environment, the Unified Regulation for Handling Radioactive Materials, the Unified Regulation for Waste Recycling, and the Procedures of Transferring Hazardous Waste Through GCC Borders.
Cooperation in the field of Youth, Sports and Scouts
Youth, sports, and scouts activities are important in the incarnation of the spirit of collective work. They serve to realize common participations that implant citizenship and consciousness, as well as release the creative mental capacities towards a better future, as sought for by the GCC. In pursuance of achieving their objectives in this field, the GCC Member States approved in 1983 a framework for youth and sport joint work. The framework outlines the principles, bases, and starting points that govern the goals of youth and sport joint activities. Another framework for scouts' joint activities, stating the common bases of the relationship between the scout societies in the GCC Member States, was also approved. In an endeavour to realize equality in this field, the GCC States issued a resolution regarding equal treatment of all GCC citizens in benefiting from youth and sports facilities, such as sports centres and hospitals, and participation in friendly competitions that comply with international regulations and bylaws. Natural and legal citizens of the GCC are also allowed to practice business in the field of sport medicine.
Cooperation in the field of Information and Media
Media cooperation aims at unifying the information policies of the GCC States, in order to achieve a unified formula that takes into consideration the basic objectives of the GCC. The joint work in this field includes cooperation of broadcasts, TV stations, press, news agencies, and publishing. Through strengthening coordination and interconnection of information institutions, the GCC seeks to make possible for these institutions to accomplish their objectives toward the common well being of the citizens and the objectives of the GCC in general. Moreover, in 1986, the GCC approved the Media Code of Ethics, which asserts that the media of the Member States should seek objectivity in their activities of publishing and broadcasting. The Protocol also rejects agitating acts and personal defamation. Moreover, it provides support to the issues of development in the GCC.
In order to coordinate their activities abroad and effect that coordination between their information institutions and external information bodies, the GCC Member States approved the Directives on Information Work Abroad.
