Qatar, EU conclude negotiations for Air Transport Agreement

Doha: Qatar and the European Union have concluded negotiations for a landmark Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement. European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, Violeta Bulc, announced yesterday that the European Union and Qatar have concluded negotiations for a landmark Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement.

This historic agreement will be the first of its kind between the EU and a Gulf Cooperation Council member state, providing a significant competitive edge to air carriers of both sides and a sustainable framework for future operations.

As a result, all air carriers from the 28 European Union member states and Qatar now have unlimited and unrestricted access to their respective territories. Through this historic agreement, which was announced during the CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit , being held at Sheraton Doha, Qatar has demonstrated once again that despite the ongoing intra-regional geopolitical tensions due to the illegal blockade imposed on the nation, it remains a leader on the global stage.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Through these negotiations, both sides have demonstrated that positive engagement can build trust among nations, so they can embrace the benefits of competition. Our hope is that the success of these negotiations will encourage other trading blocs and significant aviation markets to join in achieving a liberalised global aviation regime for future generations.

“The agreement will offer a common platform for airlines in Europe and Qatar to understand each other better, creating new opportunities for collaboration and cooperation.”

“We approach the principle of fair competition very simply: fair access to markets, competing for market share based on products and services of what the customer wants and is willing to purchase.”

European Commission Director General Mobility and Transport, Henrik Hololei, said: “We are very pleased to have concluded our negotiations with the State of Qatar here in Doha today. Thanks to the strong commitment of all parties, we have managed to reconcile our differences and found common ground through honest engagement and open dialogue.”

As part of this agreement, Qatar and the EU have taken bold steps by agreeing to articles on: fair competition, environment, consumer protection, social aspects, and transparency, as well as the inclusion of a doing-business provision, which exempts EU carriers from the obligation to hire a local General Sales Agent in Qatar.

By Sachin Kumar | The Peninsula

أعلن السيد هنريك هولولي المدير العام للمواصلات والحركة في المفوضية الأوروبية، عن اختتام المفاوضات التي كانت جارية بين الاتحاد الأوروبي ودولة قطر لإنجاز اتفاقية النقل الجوي الشاملة.

وأضاف هنريك، في مؤتمر صحفي عقد اليوم للإعلان عن هذا الإنجاز على هامش أعمال قمة كابا قطر للسياسة الجوية وتنظيم الطيران، أن الاتفاقية التي سيتم توقيعها بعد نحو ستة أشهر من الآن تفتح صفحة جديدة من العلاقات بين قطر والاتحاد الأوروبي.. مبينا أنها المرة الأولى التي يتوصل فيها الاتحاد إلى اتفاق من هذا النوع مع دول في المنطقة.

ولفت إلى أن الاتفاق مع دولة قطر الذي جاء بعد مفاوضات استمرت لمدة عامين ونصف العام، سيفتح الباب إلى المفاوضات مع دول أخرى في المنطقة.. مشيرا إلى أن الاتحاد سيبدأ مفاوضات للنقل الجوي مع سلطنة عمان خلال مارس المقبل.

وذكر أن الاتفاقية الجديدة ستفتح آفاقا مستقبلية واعدة للتعاون والشراكات في مجالات الطيران بين الدولتين، كما ستضمن ترسيخ الشفافية والمنافسة العادلة، فضلا عن الفتح التدريجي للأسواق في الجانبين.