A New Partnership with Saudi Arabia: Energy, Rights, and Global Goals

EU‑Saudi Arabia Relations – 16 December 2025

• The European Parliament has approved a new resolution to deepen ties with Saudi Arabia, a key regional partner and the EU’s 17th‑largest trading partner.
• Saudi Arabia is the EU’s biggest foreign investor, while the EU is Saudi’s 17th‑largest trading partner worldwide.
• The resolution stresses the goal of a “Strategic Partnership Agreement” (SPA) that would give the EU and Saudi Arabia a legal framework for cooperation in many fields: security, law, trade, energy, climate, digital technology, research, culture, education and labour rights.
• Energy is a priority. Saudi Arabia is moving from fossil fuels to renewables: it aims to get 50 % of its electricity from renewables by 2030, produce 4 million tonnes of clean hydrogen a year by 2030 and reach net‑zero emissions by 2060. The EU sees joint projects in solar, hydrogen and green fuels.
• Trade and investment will be expanded. The EU wants Saudi companies to follow EU rules on due diligence for any deals that involve the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
• Tourism is important. Saudi visitors support EU economies, especially hospitality and retail. The EU is ready to introduce a visa‑free travel scheme for Saudi citizens once the broader visa strategy is in place.
• Human rights remain a central concern. The resolution calls for the EU to link the SPA to concrete human‑rights progress: ending the death penalty (Saudi has carried out 345 executions in 2024, more than half on foreign nationals), improving labour rights for migrant workers, protecting women’s rights (36 % of the workforce now are women, women own 45 % of small‑and‑medium enterprises), and stopping the detention of activists.
• Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil. Youth unemployment fell from 35.01 % in 2006 to 16 % in 2023.
• The EU and Saudi Arabia cooperate on security and regional stability: Saudi has helped de‑escalate Yemen, secure the Red Sea, host talks on Ukraine and support peace efforts in Lebanon and Syria.
• Saudi Arabia is also engaging with the EU on the United Nations’ goals, the Global Gateway initiative and the International Labour Organization, especially for worker safety before the 2034 FIFA World Cup and EXPO 2030.
• The resolution urges the EU to keep working with Saudi Arabia on human‑rights reforms, to monitor progress with clear timelines, and to invite Saudi Arabia to ratify all core international human‑rights and labour‑rights conventions.

The resolution will be sent to EU institutions, Saudi leaders, and translated into Arabic.