Qatari Citizens to Enter Schengen Zone Countries Visa-Free
Schengen Visa | 15 December 2022
Qatari nationals are now eligible to travel to the European Union’s Schengen Zone countries without being required to apply for a visa at first.
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Such a decision has been confirmed by the European Parliament, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the Brussels Morning Newspaper, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs voted in favour of Qatar, while only 16 Members of the European Parliament voted against it. The new decision has been taken amid the World Cup 2022.
Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed delight over the decision that the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament made in order to exempt all citizens of Qatar from visa requirements when travelling to Schengen Zone countries.
Al Ansari also talked about the next steps, which, among others, include the beginning of deliberations in a commission representing the European Commission, the European Union, as well as the European Parliament in order to create a concrete plan for the Schengen visa exemption agreement between Qatar and the EU.
Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the European Union and NATO, welcomed the decision considering it a fundamental step toward the finalisation of the exemption file.
He also stressed that the vote comes as part of the efforts of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to care about the interest of citizens and expedite their travels to all countries worldwide.
In April 2022, the European Commission proposed the lifting of visa requirements for Qatar, stressing that these countries have already met all the needed conditions in order for this process to be completed.
“The final objective is to ensure regional coherence and ultimately achieve visa-free travel for all Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Together with our upcoming Joint Communication on the Gulf, this proposal will reinforce the overall partnership and strengthen the cooperation between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council,” the High Representative, Borell, stressed previously in this regard.
In addition, a press release published previously by the authority noted that the proposal follows a detailed assessment of irregular migration, as well as public policy and security and economic benefits and the Union’s relations with Qatar and Kuwait.
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