Portuguese MEP: Kuwait advancing in democratic reforms

A prominent Member of the European Parliament Thursday said that Kuwait is a friendly and partner country of Europe and the door is open for Kuwait to join the list of countries for visa-free travel to the EU. "Kuwait is a friendly country, a country that is advancing in democratic reforms, it is a partner," Mario David, Portuguese MEP, told the Kuwait news agency, KUNA. He is chair of European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Mashreq countries, a member of EP Foreign Affairs Committee and the EP's subcommittee on security and defence. He spoke to KUNA after the EP's Committee on Civil Liberties and Home Affairs today adopted a report recommending that visa for UAE nationals be abolished for the EU. "With this first step for the first Arab country, the door is open for countries like Kuwait and Qatar to pop in," said David. "I think countries like Kuwait, Qatar will be included in the revision (of EU visa policy) that is going to happen next year before May 2014," he said. David suggested that Kuwait should as soon as possible approach the European Commission to present the biometric security of passports, the number of passports that have been issued by Kuwait and also the number of visa refusals so far by the EU. "I am sure the number of refusals is very minimal. We are sure we don't have any economic asylum seekers from Kuwait in Europe," he stressed. David said he will be going to Kuwait for the first time later this month on a private visit. A diplomat from the Kuwait embassy was present at the meeting of the Committee today and he also met the Portuguese MEP.