Brussels- The Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) hopes to sign a long-delayed free trade agreement with the European Union in May, according to GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah.

“We agreed we should accelerate the negotiation,” he told reporters after talks with officials from the EU’s executive Commission.

“Hopefully by May 15, when the joint ministerial meeting will meet, we can initial the agreement between the two parties,” he said.

Talks for a free trade deal between the EU and the GCC began more than 15 years ago, according to a report published today by Saudi Gazette.