Doha, Qatar: The Embassies of Finland and Sweden, the Delegation of the European Union, and the Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen will convene a high-level seminar: “Gulf, Nordic, and Europe - the New Strategic Partnership for Human Capital and Digital-Driven Future Economies,” at the UN House today in Doha.
The event will gather policymakers, diplomats, academics, and experts from Europe, the Nordic region, and the Gulf.
Building on the momentum of the Nordic-Gulf dialogue launched in December 2025 in Doha, this seminar seeks to identify practical opportunities for collaboration, focusing on shared priorities that underpin both regions’ long term visions—from digital transformation and AI to education, skills development, and sustainable economic growth.
This event will examine ways to deepen collaboration and unlock sustainable, long-term prosperity, offering strategic perspectives on regional and international cooperation.
“The EU–Gulf relationship is entering a defining moment. With the launch of the Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs), both regions are signalling a new era of deeper cooperation built on shared security and economic opportunity. At the heart of this evolving partnership lies investment in human capital the key driver for innovation, competitiveness, and resilient future economies,” said Ambassador of Finland,
H E Juha Mustonen, one of the organisers of the event.
The seminar brings together a distinguished panel of former EU Commissioners from the 2019–2024 mandate—Ylva Johansson of Sweden, former Commissioner for Home Affairs; Kadri Simson of Estonia, former Commissioner for Energy; Jutta Urpilainen of Finland, former Commissioner for International Partnerships; and Margrethe Vestager of Denmark, former Executive Vice-President for “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age.”
Drawing on their direct involvement in launching the EU’s strategic partnership with the Gulf, alongside leading academic voices, they will share strategic insights on how both regions can respond to global shifts, unlock shared opportunities, and accelerate sustainable development.
