By Sanaullah Ataullah

DOHA: The European Union (EU) is seeking to strengthen relations with Qatar in trade and investment and further cooperation in dealing with regional issues like Syria and Yemen.

A visiting delegation from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday met with Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Speaker of the Advisory Council (Majlis Shura) H E Mohammed bin Mubarak AI Khulaifi and other Members of the Council and H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud AI Thani Governor of Qatar National Bank.

The seven-member delegation led by Andrej Plenkovic Vice-Chair of the Committee (Hungary) comprised of Arnaud Danjean (France) Tokia Satf (France) Afzal Khan (UK) Pier Antonio Panzeri (Italy) Mark Demesmaeker (Belgium) and Jozo Rados (Hungary). The delegation is accompanied by EU Ambassador Kulach.

During their meetings with Qatari officials the delegation discussed the security situation in the region particularly in Syria Iraq Yemen Libya Egypt and relations with Iran.

The need for further diplomatic dialogue between the EU and Qatar regarding the shared commitment to peace and stability in the region was emphasised during the meeting.

“We appreciated the open and substantive discussion that we held with the Emir and Shura Members. The EU sees Qatar as an important partner and a prominent actor which has positioned itself on the international scene and is contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East and Africa” said Plenkovic addressing a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel later yesterday.

“We are ready to intensify the parliamentary cooperation and exchanges with the Shura in the framework of the relevant EP bodies as well as through the new Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Consultative Councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).”

“We are very pleased to learn that our positions converged on a number of foreign policy priorities and the fight against terrorism is high on the agenda of both EU and Qatar” he added.

He said the EU is committed to try to find a solution to the Syrian crisis. The first is a diplomatic approach and search for political and peaceful long- term solution within the series of international involvements such as the international support group for Syria which will have its next meeting in Munich the end of this week.

He said there are fruitful economic and trade cooperation and in investments and energy existing between Qatar and many members of EU.

“We are very pleased to learn the ambition of Qatar in its 2030 project (Qatar National Vision 2030) which has an objective reduce the dependency on hydrocarbon and more dynamic social-economic diversification of income and work on economic output” said Plenkovic.

“We are also very pleased to learn from the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) the important aspects of the monetary policy and data regarding GDP. All of these aspects showed the very solid economic and financial position of Qatar” he added.

Actions have been taken regarding the legislative and regulatory framework governing the foreign workers that are involved in major infrastructure projects.

“We were assured that they are working on standards on human rights that are expected to be in accordance with international standards” said Plenkovic.

The Peninsula