MUSCAT- The European Union Civil Liberties Committee has approved a proposal to grant visa-free travel of up to 90 days to citizens of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Ecuador on Thursday, with 42 votes in favor and 16 against. However, in the case of Kuwait, the members supported visa freedom on the condition of a moratorium on the death penalty. 

According to the European Parliament, visa freedom can be used to develop the partnership between EU countries and the Gulf States, emphasizing that a human rights dialogue must be part of such development. The Chair of the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberty, justice, and interior affairs Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar stated that the European Commission took the initiative to waive the visa requirement for Kuwait and Qatar, and has now added Oman and Ecuador to the list.