site.btaMEP Elena Yoncheva and Saudi Arabia's Climate Envoy Discuss Alternative Energy Sources

MEP Elena Yoncheva held talks in Brussels with Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Affairs Envoy, Yoncheva's press office reported on Tuesday. Among the topics they discussed were possible alternative sources of energy. The meeting took place as part of a discussion between the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula and Minister Al-Jubeir. Yoncheva, an independent MEP elected from the list of Bulgaria’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms, is a member of the delegation.

The Bulgarian politician and journalist commented after the meeting: “During our conversation, I highlighted the growing importance of alternative energy sources for the EU’s energy security and for a reliable global climate transition. Minister Adel Al-Jubeir noted that expanding alternative energy is a strategic priority for Saudi Arabia in the coming years. He also sent a clear message about deepening cooperation with the European Union in an area where shared ambitions can translate into concrete results.”

According to Yoncheva, the discussion reflects a mutual interest in building practical, future-oriented partnerships in clean energy, innovation and climate resilience.

Less than a month ago, the United States granted Saudi Arabia the status of a major non-NATO ally. This took place during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington. The United States and Saudi Arabia also signed an agreement on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and the Crown Prince spoke of trillion-dollar investments in the American economy.

Saudi Arabia was expected to become part of the Abraham Accords, an initiative launched in 2020 during the first term of US President Donald Trump. Its aim is to sign documents normalizing relations in the Middle East between Israel and a number of Arab and Muslim countries. The UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have already signed the accords. In November, Kazakhstan expressed interest in joining.

Saudi Arabia was due to do so in 2023, but the document was not initialled because of the developments following Hamas’s attack on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.

Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1995, and in this regard the potential for development is significant. The two countries view cooperation in high technology, robotics, mechatronics, artificial intelligence and tourism as particularly promising.

In Brussels, Yoncheva also held talks with Hassan Eid Bukhamas, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security of Bahrain, and with representatives of the country’s legislative institution, during a two-day EU–Bahrain interparliamentary meeting.