Brussels/Abu Dhabi: The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs approved a report on Thursday recommending that EU entry permit requirements for Emiratis should be abolished.
Mariya Gabriel, the rapporteur of the report, told a meeting of the committee yesterday that the UAE is interested in strengthening ties with Europe.
“There is no risk of illegal immigration. Trips made by UAE nationals to Europe are mainly for business, tourism, studies or health care,” Gabriel said stressing that the UAE will comply with total reciprocity regarding the visa waiving.
This would make the UAE the first Arab country whose nationals will enjoy visa-free travel to the EU.
An official from the EU Commission had told the meeting that the EU’s executive body was in favour of lifting the visa requirements for UAE citizens.
The committee will vote on the report later this month and after that the report will go before the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers for their approval by mid-2014.
Giorgio Starace, Italian Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News that he is confident that the proposal to grant an entry visa exemption for UAE citizens visiting Schengen countries will be approved by the European Union.
Italy’s support
“Most of the EU nations, including Italy, have already supported the UAE’s proposal. Italy will strongly lobby for the UAE in the next stages of voting,” he said.
Starace said the Italian foreign minister has already sent a letter to the UAE foreign minister, expressing Italy’s strong support in this regard. France has also supported the UAE’s proposal.
In May, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his gratitude to the French Foreign Minister for his support at an event in Abu Dhabi. “Visa exemption for Emiratis in European Union member countries is one of the priorities of our foreign policy. France’s support of our efforts received appreciation and gratitude from our side.”
— WAM
— With inputs from Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
