World Cup Qatar 2022

The EU and Qatar have announced they have signed an “open skies” agreement which gives all airlines from both partners “unlimited and unrestricted access” to each other.The Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement is the first between the EU and a Gulf Co-operation Council state, and comes as Qatar is still experiencing a blockade by its neighbours.Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the agreement would allow “fair competition” and added: “Our hope is that the success of these negotiations will encourage other trading blocs and significant aviation markets to join in achieving a liberalised global aviation regime for future generations.”

In the agreement, the EU and Qatar agreed to articles on competition, the environment, consumer protection and transparency.Henrik Hololei, the European Commission’s director of general mobility and transport, said: “We are very pleased to have concluded our negotiations with the State of Qatar here in Doha today. Thanks to the strong commitment of all parties, we have managed to reconcile our differences and found common ground through honest engagement and open dialogue.”