But given the GCC`s current internal divisions – vis-à-vis Qatar – and its weak track record in ratifying such agreements, will a free trade agreement really be concluded? What are the benefits for both parties? Some analysts suggest that the British government could attempt to package its lucrative arms dealings with the Gulf states into an agreement, even with weapons sales to Saudi Arabia the subject of a continuing legal battle focused on allegations of war crimes carried outd by Saudi-led forces in Yemen. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the provisions relating to arbitration between the investor state (including a special tribunal under some free trade agreements) fall within the shared jurisdiction between the European Union and its Member States and that, for this reason, their ratification should be authorised by both the EU and each of the 28 Member States. [82] In May 2017, the EU and the GCC launched a specific dialogue on trade and investment issues, including with the participation of their own respective private sectors. This dialogue provides a specific platform to address trade and investment issues and improve cooperation on issues of common interest, such as incentives for market access, regulatory requirements and opportunities to increase trade and investment flows. Cooperation between the EU and the GCC is ongoing on trade and investment, macroeconomic issues, climate change, energy and the environment and research. “The government has put forward energy, nuclear energy and education, but it is not necessary to have a free trade agreement for education, but only a joint venture [an agreement with a partner].” “The same issues will apply to any agreement with the UK, although to overcome this it concerns only one country and not 27 [EU member states],” said Ian Worth, director of customs at the UK audit firm Crowe. One of the key points of the free trade agreement between the EU and the GCC was that the EU wanted a clause on human rights and political development. While, according to a communication, the GCC had no problem including it, “the real problem is that the EU has the right to suspend an agreement if it believes there is a violation of human rights on the GCC side.” The United States began negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates in March 2005. In early 2007, the United States and the United Arab Emirates announced that they could not conclude free trade negotiations within the timeframes for the trade promotion authority, but that both sides would continue to work towards the subsequent conclusion of free trade negotiations. There have been no further negotiations for a free trade agreement. One study showed that eu trade agreements implemented during the 1993-2013 period “reduced quality-adjusted prices by almost 7%.” [83] “I cannot imagine that an agreement will be reached without answering the question of human rights.