Agreement on air transport between the European Union and Qatar

Summary:

Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement signed between the European Union (EU), its Member States and the State of Qatar.

Further information:

This agreement updates rules and standards for flights between Qatar and the EU. It aimed to set a global benchmark by committing both sides to fair competition, and by including social and environmental protection.

Following the adoption of an Aviation Strategy for Europe, the European Commission obtained in 2016 an authorisation from the Council of the European Union to negotiate a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) with Qatar. Several rounds of negotiations were held in the presence of observers from EU Member States and other stakeholders since September 2016. The talks were successfully concluded on 5 February 2019.

The agreement was started in March 2019 but the EU only formally signed it in October 2021. It was published in the EU's Official Journal on 5 November 2021.

Official

EUR-LEX: Council Decision (EU) 2021/1920 on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement on air transport between the European Union and Qatar http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1920/oj

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)156: Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Air Transport Agreement between Qatar and the European Union https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:156:FIN

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)157: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement on Air Transport between Qatar and the European Union https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:156:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 04/03/2019: EU and Qatar reach aviation agreement https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_1490

European Commission: Press Release, 18/10/2021: Aviation: EU and Qatar sign landmark aviation agreement https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5344

European Commission: Questions and Answers: EU and Qatar sign a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (18 October 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_5345

Qatari Government: Ministry of Transport: News, 18/10/2021: Qatar Signs Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement with EU https://www.motc.gov.qa/en/news-events/news/qatar-signs-comprehensive-air-transport-agreement-eu

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News

Reuters, 05/02/2019: Qatar, EU to sign open skies agreement after agreeing terms https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1PU1V7

Reuters, 18/10/2021: Qatar signs comprehensive air transport agreement with EU https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-signs-comprehensive-air-transport-agreement-with-eu-2021-10-18/

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Commentary and Analysis

European Cockpit Association (ECA): News, 07/10/2016: EU-Qatar: First round of air transport agreement negotiations completed https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/eu-qatar-first-round-air-transport-agreement-negotiations-completed

Politico, 17/01/2019: How Brussels helped Qatar beat its aerial blockade https://www.politico.eu/article/how-brussels-helped-qatar-beat-its-aerial-blockade/

European Cockpit Association (ECA): News, 04/03/2019: EU aviation market opens up further: EU-Qatar reach an Air Transport Agreement https://www.eurocockpit.be/news/eu-aviation-market-opens-further-eu-qatar-reach-air-transport-agreement

Europeans for Fair Competition (E4FC): Press Release, 15/04/2021: Stop unfair competition in aviation, reassess the EU-Qatar Air Transport Agreement https://e4fc.eu/stop-unfair-competition-in-aviation-reassess-the-eu-qatar-air-transport-agreement/#111111

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