Qatar has criticized the European Parliament (EP) for its decision to prohibit its representatives from being in the parliament building and has indicated that such discriminatory treatment may threaten mutual cooperation, Politico reports.
Last week, the EP decided to prevent the representatives of Qatar from being in the parliament building, and the planned visits and consideration of the visa regime issue were also suspended. It follows allegations of corruption that have rocked Brussels.
The Qatari diplomat said in a statement on the 18th of December that the decision taken by the EP will affect the negotiations on security and energy supplies.
The statement also added that EP officials were misled and acted based on prejudices rather than confirmed information. Qatar, which has just finished hosting the World Cup, strongly denies allegations of wrongdoing.
Efforts to replace energy resources previously purchased in the aggressor country after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led many European Union countries to turn to Qatar. In November, Germany signed an agreement on the purchase of liquefied natural gas from Qatar. Last year, the natural gas supplied by Doha accounted for a quarter of Europe’s gas imports.
Belgian authorities have arrested four people connected to the EP, including Eva Kaili, who is currently suspended from her duties as vice president. Charges have been brought for participation in organized crime, money laundering, and corruption.
Qatar has criticized Belgium for not providing information on the investigation, which Belgian authorities say has lasted at least a year.
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