Strasbourg, 12 December 2022
Erik Marquardt commented on the decision to send a draft law lifting visa requirements for citizens of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Ecuador back to committee for review.
At the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg on Monday 12 December, MEPs decided to refer the legislative proposal granting short-stay visa freedom to citizens of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Ecuador back to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs for further discussion. The decision, based on Rule 198 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, was adopted with a show of hands.
After the decision, rapporteur Erik Marquardt (Greens/EFA, DE) said:
“We must ensure that this process has not been influenced by corruption. We also have to make sure that any attempt to attack our democracy has consequences. For now, we will not proceed towards visa liberalisation for Qatar. We need to review the rules in the European Parliament and how these are implemented. There must be strict consequences for those who bribed and for those who have been bribed.”
Background
On 1 December, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted a draft report on visa freedom for Kuwait and Qatar, adding also Oman and Ecuador to the list of countries exempted from visa requirements for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). The committee also backed starting negotiations on the draft legislation, which was subject to confirmation by the full house of the European Parliament.