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RELATIONS WITH THE EU

The European Union and the State of Qatar

The State of Qatar is a monarchy and has been ruled by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani since 2013. The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Cooperation Arrangement in March 2018. This Cooperation Arrangement serves as the basis for enhanced political dialogue and strengthened cooperation on sectoral areas of mutual interest, notably private sector development and research and innovation. These are key areas for Qatar’s diversification efforts and the country's transformation agenda, contained in the Qatar National Vision 2030. More recently, our bilateral cooperation has been boosted significantly, leading to the conclusion of an Agreement on the Establishment of a new EU Delegation to the State of Qatar (opened on the 1st of September 2022).

Political Relations

Cooperation between the EU and Qatar took place, initially, in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement, concluded between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1988. The main directions of action comprised therein are: 

  • Strengthening the stability in the strategically important region.
  • Facilitating political and economic relations.
  • Broadening economic and technical cooperation. 
  • Further broadening cooperation on energy, industry, trade and services, agriculture, fisheries, investment, science, technology and environment. 

The EU-Qatar Cooperation Arrangement signed in 2018 gave new impetus to our bilateral relation, providing a distinct framework for political and sectoral consultations on the areas of mutual interest. More recently, the bilateral engagement has intensified significantly, leading to the opening of an EU Delegation in Doha in Doha in 2022.

In the aftermath of the 2021 crisis in Afghanistan, Qatar played an instrumental role in facilitating the evacuation of people, including EU citizens and continues to have a relevant and constructive role in the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution.

The importance attached by the EU to the Gulf Region in general and to the State in Qatar in particular is also reflected in the EU’s Joint Communication on a “Strategic Partnership with the Gulf”, adopted in May 2022.