Brussels: The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament approved yesterday to exempt citizens of the State of Qatar from the entry visa to Schengen countries without conditions.
Such a step is considered the last one from the part of the European Parliament that shall be followed by deliberations in a tripartite committee representing the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the Parliament to further set the text of Schengen visa exemption agreement between the two parties prior to being signed and implemented.
Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari underlined that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the ratification made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) of the European Parliament to exempt citizens of the State of Qatar from the entry visa to Schengen countries without conditions.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Ansari indicated that the ratification of the exemption came as a result of the constant efforts made by the State of Qatar’s mission to European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure its unfettered passage, expressing the State of Qatar’s happiness for the ratification of the exemption with the majority of 42 votes in LIBE.
He noted that LIBE’s approval for the exemption included that it does not need to be presented in general deliberations session of the European Parliament, in order to be a final approval from the European Parliament.
He clarified that the next step includes the start of deliberations in a tripartite commission representing the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the Parliament to formulate the text of the Schengen visa exemption agreement between the State of Qatar and European Union in preparation for its signature and implementation by the two parties, indicating that it is difficult to set a time limit for these steps, however, the thing that can be confirmed is that the essential steps have been completed.
The Spokesperson said that the ministry’s follow-up to all stages of the issuance of the exemption underscores its keenness to overcome the difficulties faced by the Qatari citizens and expedite their travel procedures abroad.
The Spokesperson emphasized that the ministry will spare no effort to sign further agreements that put the Qatari passport among the most powerful international passports in commensurate with the global and diplomatic position of the country.
Also Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the European Union and NATO H E Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki welcomed this approval describing it as a fundamental step toward the finalization of the exemption file.
He underlined that the vote comes in the context of the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Qatar to care for the interests of citizens abroad and expedite their travels to all world countries.