In Theory: Putting GCC decisions into practice

The 31st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit built significantly on previous actions by the bloc. This was achieved through a resolution allowing GCC companies to open branches in member states and the issuance of a general framework on preservation of water resources.

This is crucial because it comes at a time when the Gulf is considered to be one of the world's poorest regions in terms of water resources while having the highest per capita water consumption.

The summit also made recommendations for speedy implementation of other important matters as well, such as the customs union, common market and railway network, while some difference in opinion still exists regarding the monetary union.

This means that GCC countries, in the span of three decades, has made progress in the decision-making process.

Commitment

The main issue, however, revolves around the commitment in implementing these decisions. Many previous resolutions have not yet been executed despite the fact that they were approved many years ago.

We are not here to assess the implementation process, which perhaps falls within the General Secretariat's jurisdiction. However, the decision that was taken almost 10 years ago allowing national banks to open branches in GCC countries, for example, has not yet been implemented, except within narrow limits.

This is because there are contradictions between the GCC countries' joint resolutions and each country's local law. Despite the fact that such resolutions are made by the GCC's highest authority, they still require local decrees in order to be implemented.

Past experiences show that the harmony between a country's domestic laws and decisions taken collectively varies from one country to another. Some show commitment to the implementation process by issuing a resolution after three months have passed, some follow a year later, while some would take about three years or more, and so forth. This results in the piling up of the number of decisions not being implemented, which lessens their importance.

To overcome this issue, an agreement could be made to activate collective GCC decisions three months at most after their issuance.

This provides enough time for implementing these decisions and annulling domestic laws that contradict with collective GCC decisions. Such is the case in the European Union countries.

Delay

If such a procedure is not introduced, there will always be a delay in the implementation of these resolutions.

Moreover, the GCC needs to give the General Secretariat more powers that will allow it to follow up on the implementation of these decisions.

These decisions reflect the keenness of all GCC nations to work together. However, the main problem lies in the bureaucracy that usually comes up with excuses that obstruct the implementation of these decisions. It is important that these bodies are compelled to implement these decisions through appropriate laws. In this regard, one can benefit from the experience of Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Secretary-General of the GCC, who has worked with loyalty and dedication and has achieved significant gains in his tenure, such as the unified GCC electric grid, improving the GCC unified economic agreement, approving the customs union and common market, among others.

His successor, Dr Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayyani, must not focus solely on agreements related to GCC integration, but also the implementation of GCC decisions, both present and previous ones, by strengthening the common legislative infrastructure of GCC countries. This can also be achieved by giving the General Secretariat more power in conducting follow-ups and ensuring that the decisions agreed upon are implemented.

This will not be an easy task for the new Secretary-General.

However, neither is it impossible, considering that any order he issues will be emanating from the highest body in the GCC structure. This provides him with a strong mandate and an acceptability among GCC nations, who aspire to hold a leading position among global economies in the coming years.

Dr Mohammad Al Asoomi is a UAE economic expert.