Paper Title
European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council Relations: Arduous Cruise

Abstract
EU – GCC Relations started thirty years ago, but proceeded very languishingly. After the first agreement between two institutions in 1998, EU transformed, GCC slowly changed, international system dramatically converted and rules between two parties were amended by ENP of the EU. Although both sides need each other, obstinate policies caused cessation several times. According to some scholars, GCC is becoming a periphery region for them, GCC still needs the EU as a first market in total trade. Bilateralism, cultural differences, GCC’s loose integration, lack of EU’s leverage in the Gulf could be lined up as some reasons of the unprogressive relations. Recent developments such as Trump’s election, Brexit, Qatar crisis, 5+1- Iran Nuclear Deal and Russia’s growing interest to the Gulf are effecting EU- GCC relations negatively. In this study, historical, and recent developments and their effects on the EU-GCC relations were examined; and in the end some solution alternatives are discussed. Keywords - European Neighborhood Policy, EU-GCC Relations, GCC, GCC Integration, Gulf and Europe.