Qatari Nationals No Longer Required to Obtain Schengen Visa

Qatari nationals will no longer need a visa to enter any Schengen countries, according to a decision made yesterday by the European Parliament's LIBE Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs.

This action by the European Parliament is regarded as the final one before discussions in a tripartite committee comprised of the Council of the European Union, the Commission, and the Parliament are held to finalize the text of the Schengen visa exemption agreement between the two parties before it is signed and put into effect.

Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, who serves as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson and advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the ratification of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) decision to exempt citizens of the State of Qatar from the need for a visa to enter Schengen nations.

Dr. Al Ansari expressed the State of Qatar's happiness for the exemption's ratification with a majority of 42 votes in LIBE in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), saying that it came about as a result of the ongoing efforts made by the State of Qatar's mission to the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure its unrestrained passage.

He pointed out that LIBE's approval of the exemption included the provision that it did not need to be discussed during a general session of the European Parliament in order for it to receive the European Parliament's final approval.

He explained that the following step entails the beginning of discussions in a tripartite commission made up of the Council of the European Union, the Commission, and the Parliament to draft the text of the Schengen visa exemption agreement between the State of Qatar and the European Union in preparation for its signature and implementation by the two parties, indicating that it is difficult to set a deadline for these steps but that what can be confirmed is that they will take place.

The ministry's follow-up at all steps of the exemption's granting, according to the ministry's spokeswoman, shows how eager it is to resolve the issues facing Qatari nationals and hasten their international travel procedures.

The spokesperson underlined that the ministry will make every effort to sign additional agreements that elevate the Qatari passport to the ranks of the most powerful international passports in keeping with the nation's position both diplomatically and globally.

Additionally, H E Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the European Union and NATO, hailed this decision and described it as an important step toward the completion of the exemption file.

He emphasized that the vote is part of the State of Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' commitment to looking out for the interests of its nationals abroad and facilitating their journeys to all countries of the world.