About the European Union

In the fifties of the last century, the idea of the European Union was born in the form of an economic partnership with a limited number of countries, not exceeding six member states, but soon this partnership expanded and its aspects became multiplied to become a unified bloc of 27 member states.

The European Union is characterized by a unique political and economic system.

The Union relies in its organizational structure on a number of institutions that share powers, coordinate and cooperate in managing its internal and external affairs.

The European Parliament

It is the only elected institution. Its members are directly elected every five years by the citizens of the Member States.

 

The Council of the European Union

It is the body in which ministers of all Member States meet to adopt legislation, coordinate policies among themselves, define foreign and defense policy and coordinate cooperation between local courts and police in Member States. The presidency of the Council alternates between two Member States for a period of six months each.

 

The European Commission

 It  is the executive body of the European Union and it has 27 Commissioners. The Commission sets priorities for long-term public spending within the European Financial Framework.

 

The European External Action Service

It  is the diplomatic corps of the European Union. Its role is to enhance the foreign policy of the EU in order to increase Europe's influence in the World.

 

The State of Qatar's relations with the European Union

The relations between the State of Qatar and the European Union are characterized by close ties based on cooperation in the long term through meetings, visits and events in various fields.

 

Qatar-EU Cooperation and Partnership

The European Union has shown great interest in consolidating relations at all levels with major influential countries in their regions and on the international arena. The EU has chosen a number of countries, among them the State of Qatar, to begin a political dialogue with them and to discuss issues of common interest.

 

Cultural relations between the European Union and the State of Qatar

On the cultural level, we sought to develop Euro-Qatari relations, especially through visits and cultural events, and organizing the Qatari week inside the European Parliament building to introduce the Qatari heritage and culture.

The State of Qatar and a number of European Union member states, the British Council and the French Institute signed on May 25, 2016 the founding charter of the European Union’s Network of National Cultural Institutes (EUNIC) to promote and expand cultural relations and support cultural and linguistic diversity through exchanges between young people and artists, Europeans and Qataris. This network is the first of its kind in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

 

Bilateral visits

• The visit of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, to the European Parliament in 2006.
• The visit of the delegation of relations with the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament to the State of Qatar in 2008, 2010 and 2014.
• The visit of the President of the European Council to the State of Qatar in 2012.
• The visit of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the European Union in 2012.
• The visit of His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the European Union on 08 October 2012 to launch the Qatar Friendship Association in the European Parliament.
• The visit of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the European Union in 2013.
• The visit of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs to the State of Qatar in 2014.
• The visit of the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs to the European Union in 2014.
• The visit of a delegation representing the European Parliament to the State of Qatar in 2014.
• The visit of the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth to the State of Qatar in 2014.
• The visit of the Assistant Minister for International Cooperation Affairs to the European Union during the period 28 March - 2 April 2015.
• The visit of HE the Commissioner of the European Union for Transport to the State of Qatar in 2015.
• The visit of His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation Affairs to European Institutions on December 4, 2015.
• The visit of the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament to the State of Qatar in 2016.
• The visit of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Communications to the European Commission in 2016.
• The visit of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the European institutions on October 18, 2016.
• The visit of His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the Vice-President of the European Parliament - 23 March 2017.
• The visit of His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union - 04 April 2017.
• The visit of His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the EEAS Secretary General - 01 September 2017.
• The visit of His Highness the Emir and the signing of a joint cooperation arrangement with the European Union - 07 March 2018
• The visit of His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy in the European Union - 25 April 2018.
• The visit of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the High Representative of the European Union - June 21, 2018.
• The visit of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the High Representative of the European Union - 14 March 2019.
• The visit of His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the European Commissioner in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship - 27 November 2019.
• The visit of His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to a number of European officials during the period 18-19 February 2020.
• The Visit of HR Josep Borrell to the State of Qatar in September 30th 2021.

Relations between the State of Qatar and NATO

Over the recent years, the State of Qatar has strengthened its bilateral relationship with NATO, aiming at achieving stability and security in the Gulf region, reforming the in the defense security and sectors, military cooperation and energy security.

The areas of cooperation between the two sides, which included both political and practical aspects, had reached the level of partnership between them.

The most important milestones and stations in the process of the cooperation between the State of Qatar and NATO are as follows:

• The State of Qatar's membership in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI).
• The Individual Partnership and Cooperation program (IPCP) between the State of Qatar and NATO in the year 2016.
• Security of Information Agreement in January 2018.
• Agreement of the Status of NATO forces and employees at Al Udeid Air Base (SOFA) in March 2018.
• The participation of the State of Qatar in the mission of the Unified Protector, which NATO assumed its leadership in Libya with a mandate from the United Nations in March 2011.
• The participation of the State of Qatar in the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan.
• Hosting of several important NATO conferences and events in Doha, such as the Gulf Security Conference in 2014, the NATO Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction in March 2015, and the third meeting of the Consultative Group for the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in 2016.
• Exchange of visits at the highest levels between the two sides. The historic visit of His Highness the Father Emir to the headquarters of NATO, on November 17, 2006, was the first visit of its kind by a head of state from one of the member states of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. The visitresembleda start of the stage of actual cooperation between the two sides and opened the door to holding many joint seminars, conferences and workshops, which aimed to achieving permanent stability and security in the Gulf region, reforming the defense sector, security and military cooperation, energy security as well as exchanging visits and political consultations, in addition to participating in NATO military courses.
• An agreement to open the offices of the State of Qatar's mission to NATO and the military representation of the State of Qatar at NATO headquarters in February 2021.