When leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meet at the next Consultative Gulf Summit in May, talk of a closer union between its six member states will almost certainly be on the cards.
A more integrated GCC would certainly constitute a qualitative shift in Gulf joint action and a model of regional cooperation for other Arab countries. The GCC experiment may have fluctuated between optimism and pessimism over the past three decades, but it has been largely positive.
A formal Gulf Union, if it is announced at the May summit, would not differ a lot from the current status of cooperation. But the existence of such a union would help solve many pending issues for the GCC, which still exist despite the existence of a Customs Union and the Gulf Common Market.
Initially, the GCC countries achieved successful development, one that stands out as a model to be emulated by the Middle East and many countries around the world. There is undoubtedly a need to continue this experiment in the future, considering not only regional and international changes, but grave challenges.
It is important to point out that the GCC countries do not need to import experiences from outside, because they have their own history, but it could consider the experiences of Singapore and South Korea, as well as emerging countries such as Turkey and Brazil.
Learning from EU model
But to further develop the GCC experience it is necessary for the six GCC nations to move from the stage of cooperation to the stage of union, while making the maximum use of the European Union's experience, especially with regard to the way it has handled differing opinions between nations and reached compromises that create a balance between national sovereignty and obligatory agreements. The GCC countries need to learn how to manage their differences and handle their issues by arriving at a common ground that allows them to maintain their national sovereignty and be committed to binding agreements concluded within the scope of the supposed union.
This is something that the GCC has, so far, failed to deal with, largely because of a lack of information that could have quashed any misgivings or fears when they arose. The GCC nations need to deal with their differences and settle them through joint collective work so as to curb their impacts on the implementation of decisions agreed by them.
Looking at the experience of the EU, regarding the endorsement of fin-ancial obligation agreements last week, the European group has made the most of the debt crisis and challenges that faced its single currency, the euro. Another positive step is that the member states have agreed to rotate the position of the Central Bank chairman, while preparations are in full swing to appoint a federal finance minister.
Unifying policies
On the political scene, the existence of a EU minister of foreign affairs has not diminished the role of foreign ministers of individual European states. On the contrary, it has led to increasing coordination and a unification of policy, which has had effective impacts on the implementation of EU policies in the international arena.
Indeed, a similar coordination between GCC countries has occurred lately, especially with regard to the political events and unrest taking place in the Arab world. This coordination could pave the way for the introduction of a rotation system under which GCC countries will rotate the posts of Finance Minister, Governor of Central Bank, and a GCC Foreign Minister to speak on behalf the six Gulf nations. These officials will have to coordinate policies and implement decisions taken under the umbrella of the upcoming union.
It is fair to say that a formal Gulf Union still has a long way to go before it overcomes the obstacles it faces, but the final outcome will be positive and useful for maintaining the security of the GCC countries and will bring significant gains to their people. It is time to reduce caution which has prevailed so far.
Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi is a UAE economic expert and specialist in economic and social developments in the UAE and GCC countries.
