In a recent meeting held in Brussels, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the EU discussed waiving the Schengen visa for GCC citizens.
Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), and Luigi Di Maio, EU special representative for the Gulf region, held the meeting. They discussed GCC-European bilateral relations in light of their strategic partnership and ways to enhance cooperation between them.
Moreover, both Al Budaiwi and Di Maio highlighted the importance of collective action between both regions to address current challenges.
Economic benefits
Al Budaiwi had previously expressed his optimistic outlook on discussions to waive the Schengen visa for GCC citizens which underscores the significance of his upcoming visit to Brussels.
Moreover, he highlighted the economic benefits of waiving the Schengen visa for GCC citizens for both the EU and the GCC, stating that the gross national income of the six GCC countries amounted to $2.2 trillion. This places the region in the 9th place globally.
Read | UAE introduces ‘Work Bundle’: Now get work visa in five days
He also explained that waiving the Schengen visa for GCC citizens aligns with the EU’s statement about the best ways to develop the strategic partnership between the two sides, issued by the European Commission in May 2022.
The secretary-general highlighted that the Schengen visa exemption represents an important step towards strengthening the strategic partnership between the GCC and EU and clearly reflects the spirit of cooperation between them.
The European Commission had proposed in 2022 the exemption of Qatar and Kuwaiti nationals from Schengen visa application requirements. However, this decision needs to be discussed among all EU member states and the European Parliament before approval.
For more miscellaneous news, click here.
