EU mulls exempting Kuwaiti and Qatari citizens from Schengen visa

• Together, the Gulf States constitute the eighth-largest economy in the world, with annual growth of their combined economies estimated at about 6% and a gross domestic product of $2.4 trillion.

In response to discussions about a potential European plan to waive the Schengen visa requirement for citizens of Gulf states in the near future, European Union’s Arabic spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Luis Miguel Bueno elaborated in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, stating, “The European Commission has proposed exempting Kuwaiti and Qatari citizens from the Schengen visa requirement starting in 2022.”

He continued, “This proposal is on the negotiating table by the European Commission, but there must be a discussion within the European Union (EU) among member states, and also in the European Parliament. As you know, there are elections in about four months next June. I think there is a desire on the part of the European Commission to work towards exempting citizens of these two countries from the Schengen visa. However, the process is somewhat complicated and must go through the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.”

The European official concluded his speech by saying, “It is expected that there will be a discussion on this issue, but we cannot say that the outcome of these discussions will be quick, or that we will see it after the visit of the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.”
Bueno confirmed that the upcoming visit of the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, to Brussels includes discussing several files, including the exemption of citizens from Gulf Cooperation Council countries from the Schengen Visa.

Together, the Gulf States constitute the eighth-largest economy in the world, with annual growth of their combined economies estimated at about 6% and a gross domestic product of $2.4 trillion.