President of the European Council Charles Michel inaugurated Wednesday the premises of the European Union delegation in Qatar, to strengthen Qatari-European relations and advance them towards a new stage of bilateral co-operation and for upgrading diplomatic ties.
The opening ceremony was attended by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, Qatar's ambassador to the European Union Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki and Ambassador-designate of the European Union to Qatar Dr Cristian Tudor.
In his speech on the occasion, Michel said that his current visit to Qatar and the inauguration of the premises of the EU delegation in Doha is an important sign of the political will of the EU towards developing relations with Qatar.
He added that the world is facing global challenges in the energy sectors, economic development and security challenges, which reinforces the conviction that co-operation with Qatar is an important way to jointly overcome various challenges.
Michel pointed out that he had conducted a number of meetings and political consultations with officials in Qatar, expressing his confidence that remarkable progress would be made on important issues of common interest, for example exempting Qatari citizens from entry visas to the EU, and taking other important decisions concerning relations between the two sides in the coming weeks. He noted the common aspirations and goals between the EU and Qatar, and their keenness to make more efforts related to achieving security, stability and prosperity in all fields.
Qatar's ambassador to the EU Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki said that the opening of the premises of the EU delegation in Doha came based on the joint agreement signed by the two sides in Brussels in Feb 2022, which was represented in the establishment of an EU mission in Qatar and its privileges and immunities. He explained that the visit of President of the European Council is the first to the country and aims to strengthen relations and joint co-operation in many projects, which will be studied and announced soon, a matter which reflects the importance of Qatar and its position for the EU.
Speaking to QNA, Qatar's ambassador to the EU affirmed that Qatari-European relations witnessed remarkable progress during the last period, as there were many bilateral visits between the two sides, intending to strengthen co-operation in the long term through meetings between officials, exchange visits, and through organising events in various fields.
In remarks to QNA, Ambassador-designate of the EU to Qatar Dr Cristian Tudor expressed great happiness and appreciation for being appointed as the resident ambassador of the EU to Qatar and head of the EU mission in Doha, noting that the opening of the mission premises reflects the EU's interest in Qatar, especially after the important achievements that have been achieved during the last period, foremost of which is the European Commission's announcement of exempting Qatari citizens from the
EU (Schengen) visa, which will enter into force soon after completing the related procedures.
He noted that the great momentum witnessed by the European-Qatari relations reflects the political will, keenness and firm desire to strengthen relations and to study the implementation of many joint projects and plans on the ground, as well as in strengthening co-operation on the issues of energy, security and stability, green transformation, digitisation and others. He praised Qatar's great role and its efforts to bring security, stability and peace to the region and the world.
Regarding hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Tudor praised the achievements, reforms and updates made by Qatar to host this tournament, affirming the readiness of the EU to provide support in various fields for the success of this global sporting event.
The opening ceremony was attended by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, Qatar's ambassador to the European Union Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki and Ambassador-designate of the European Union to Qatar Dr Cristian Tudor.
In his speech on the occasion, Michel said that his current visit to Qatar and the inauguration of the premises of the EU delegation in Doha is an important sign of the political will of the EU towards developing relations with Qatar.
He added that the world is facing global challenges in the energy sectors, economic development and security challenges, which reinforces the conviction that co-operation with Qatar is an important way to jointly overcome various challenges.
Michel pointed out that he had conducted a number of meetings and political consultations with officials in Qatar, expressing his confidence that remarkable progress would be made on important issues of common interest, for example exempting Qatari citizens from entry visas to the EU, and taking other important decisions concerning relations between the two sides in the coming weeks. He noted the common aspirations and goals between the EU and Qatar, and their keenness to make more efforts related to achieving security, stability and prosperity in all fields.
Qatar's ambassador to the EU Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki said that the opening of the premises of the EU delegation in Doha came based on the joint agreement signed by the two sides in Brussels in Feb 2022, which was represented in the establishment of an EU mission in Qatar and its privileges and immunities. He explained that the visit of President of the European Council is the first to the country and aims to strengthen relations and joint co-operation in many projects, which will be studied and announced soon, a matter which reflects the importance of Qatar and its position for the EU.
Speaking to QNA, Qatar's ambassador to the EU affirmed that Qatari-European relations witnessed remarkable progress during the last period, as there were many bilateral visits between the two sides, intending to strengthen co-operation in the long term through meetings between officials, exchange visits, and through organising events in various fields.
In remarks to QNA, Ambassador-designate of the EU to Qatar Dr Cristian Tudor expressed great happiness and appreciation for being appointed as the resident ambassador of the EU to Qatar and head of the EU mission in Doha, noting that the opening of the mission premises reflects the EU's interest in Qatar, especially after the important achievements that have been achieved during the last period, foremost of which is the European Commission's announcement of exempting Qatari citizens from the
EU (Schengen) visa, which will enter into force soon after completing the related procedures.
He noted that the great momentum witnessed by the European-Qatari relations reflects the political will, keenness and firm desire to strengthen relations and to study the implementation of many joint projects and plans on the ground, as well as in strengthening co-operation on the issues of energy, security and stability, green transformation, digitisation and others. He praised Qatar's great role and its efforts to bring security, stability and peace to the region and the world.
Regarding hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Tudor praised the achievements, reforms and updates made by Qatar to host this tournament, affirming the readiness of the EU to provide support in various fields for the success of this global sporting event.
