Germany repeats vow to support Emiratis’ visa-free travel to Europe

The German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said he was confident Emiratis would soon be able to travel to Europe without a visa.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister, discuss visa rules and relations between the countries in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
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ABU DHABI // Germany has repeated its pledge to allow visa-free travel for Emiratis to Europe.

The support, reiterated by the country's foreign minister today, followed Britain's announcement it will waive visa requirements for UAE nationals.

Guido Westerwelle said allowing Emiratis to travel freely to Germany would benefit both countries, who already work together on business and trade.

“I’d like to highlight that the German government has asked the European Union to exempt the UAE [in] obtaining the Schengen visa,” he said. “This can be achieved in the EU. Germany endeavours to issue such a decision and I’m sure we will achieve this and succeed without interference in any European [talks].”

Germany, along with Austria and Belgium, initially opposed any change to the visa rules for the UAE.

Schengen countries – including most of Europe but not the UK or Ireland – have been compiling reports on the economic, political and mutual benefits of a visa waiver for UAE citizens since last year.

But despite levels of support and the UK's decision this week, the move has not yet been accepted.

“It is a mutual interest between the UAE and Germany,” Mr Westerwelle said. “We are not only countries of business and [trade], but we also exchange visits between youth and education and all these are important elements that we would like to increase in the economic side.

“We have discussions in infrastructure as well as renewable energy and all these issues were discussed during our meeting. We will continue such talks in the future.”

He was speaking with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, today.

Sheikh Abdullah said the relationship between the countries was diversified, from economic aspects to cultural and political ones.

“Investment and trade between both countries amounts to more than US$8 billion (D29bn) and the UAE is the second-biggest trade partner to Germany,” he said.

“My friend, the ambassador, is a minister from Europe on whom I depend a lot to develop relations. His role is very important as well as his support of the UAE to participate in the EU decision.”

There are 12,000 working Germans and 900 German companies in the UAE, all of whom contribute to the country’s development.

“Many UAE nationals visit Germany for tourism and medical care,” said Sheikh Abdullah. “We’d like to thank Germany for their support and [welcoming] our people.”

The ministers held discussions with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, regarding the Middle East negotiations in Geneva last week.

“I spent hours in Geneva with my colleagues discussing the P5+1 group and we discussed a diplomatic settlement in the issue of Iran’s nuclear weapons,” Mr Westerwelle said. “This option cannot be accepted by Germany.”

Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE has had "a problem with Iran since it has been occupying three islands for the last 42 years".

“I don’t want to go into negotiations but I’d like to say that Iran should exert similar efforts regarding regional issues that are related to the P5+1,” he said. “This is about the security and the safety of the region, the development of the economy and we hope Iran will, as much as possible, ensure the stability and safety of its neighbours.

“I hope with the Rouhani government there is a new start and hope that we witness a change in Iran but it needs time and hard work between us and Iran.”

Talks also touched on the situation in Egypt.

“It is a country which is very important for the region,” said Sheikh Abdullah. “Not only because of its size or history, but for the weight that it embodies in politics, in religion and in tolerance and openness among civilisations.

“There are some political differences that do not justify the terrorism that we see in Egypt and we need to work together. Egypt is undergoing political and economic issues so we have to speed up the dialogue and negotiations between the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and Egypt to ensure the complementary work by GCC countries.

“Egypt needs a restructuring of its funds and economy to have a sustainable economy.”

cmalek@thenational.ae