The European Union (EU) praised the great reforms the State of Qatar has done regarding the protection of workers and its efforts in improving the work environment.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of an introductory meeting organized by the EU for a delegation of Gulf journalists at the Union’s headquarters in Brussels, European Union spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said that the EU has always appreciated all steps taken by the State of Qatar with regard to workers, adding that such an endeavor is endless, thus, the EU encourages its partners in Qatar to continue on the path of labor reforms.
On the other hand, the EU Spokesperson praised the wonderful organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, noting that this success contributed to enhancing Qatar’s image and to a change of many misconceptions.
In another context, the European Union affirmed its keenness to strengthen relations with Islamic countries in general and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in particular, stressing that the countries of the EU have tools in place to combat hatred against Islam on the European continent.
In response to a question by Qatar News Agency (QNA) about the lack of legislation criminalizing insulting Islam in Europe, EU regional media officer for the Middle East and North Africa Luis Miguel Bueno said that there are legal directives from the Council of the European Union to criminalize hatred on the basis of religion.
In a related context, he indicated that the European Commission had spoken with member states in this regard, and had directed the need to impose penalties or fines to curb hatred on basis of religion, indicating that the decision is now in the hands of the parliaments of the concerned countries.
Bueno also reviewed the initiatives adopted by the Union to combat Islamophobia, such as the recent appointment of the European Commission’s Coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred Marion Lalisse.
In addition, the Union organizes training sessions for judges in some member states to deal with the issue of hatred against Islam, he said, noting that the project began in Italy and is supervised by Muslim trainers, in addition to another project targeting journalists in another EU member, for journalists to deal with impartiality with issues related to hatred against Islam, especially in light of the widespread disinformation about Islam in Europe.
The EU regional media officer for the Middle East and North Africa added that the EU has an important project to translate the Holy Qur’an into 22 European languages, a project funded by the EU, representing another dimension in addressing hatred against Islam.
As for EU-GCC relations, Luis Miguel Bueno stressed the great potential to strengthen relations between the EU and GCC countries, explaining that every EU country has its own relations with GCC countries, whereas the EU as a bloc also has its own tools to strengthen relations with the GCC through the holding of periodic meetings between the two institutions, in addition to the Union’s efforts to strengthen its relations with the Gulf states through EU delegations to GCC countries and via EU Special Representative for the Gulf region Luigi Di Maio.
When it comes to the economy, the EU regional media officer for the Middle East and North Africa said that the EU is one of the GCC states’ most important trade and investment partners, adding that the signing of a free trade agreement between the two sides would enhance the economic partnership.
Luis Miguel Bueno explained that GCC states have strategies in place to develop their economies away from oil, and so do some EU states, leading European countries to seek cooperation with the GCC countries in the field of clean energy and the exchange expertise in this field.
Bueno pointed out that the EU is the GCC countries’ second largest trading partner after China, with the Union accounting for 12.3 percent of GCC countries’ total foreign trade in 2020, whereas 17.8 percent of Gulf imports came from the EU during the same year, with bilateral trade exchange of goods amounting to EUR 97.1 billion in 2020.
With regard to the Palestinian issue, the EU regional media officer for the Middle East and North Africa affirmed the EU’s rejection and denunciation of the Israeli settlement policy, which undermines the chances of finding a peaceful solution and eliminates peaceful negotiations.
During his meeting with Gulf journalists, the EU spokesperson indicated existence of a European initiative to revive the peace process, with the EU counting on the efforts of the GCC countries to make this initiative a success, highlighting that the Union has become the largest donor to the Palestinians and finances 63 percent of UNRWA’s operations, stressing the consensus among its 27 member states to support the Palestinian Authority.
Source: Qatar News Agency