Ref. Ares(2021)7711516 - 14/12/2021
Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
DG HOME
Table des matières
1. Visa
2. Radicalisation
3. PNR
4. Defensive on Europol
5. Biography
6. Background: country fiche
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
Introduction
Ambassador Almazouri will be accompanied by
Deputy Chief of Mission, and
,
Counsellor.
On our side, the meeting could be the opportunity
d
to inform about the new requirements which will follow the upcoming
adoption of the
EU PNR proposal.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
1. Visa Cooperation
Pages 4 to 11 have been deleted.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
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2. Radicalisation – GCTF Center of Excellence on Countering
Violent Extremism (CVE)
Pages 12 to 16 have been deleted.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
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3. EU PNR
Objective
Introduce the EU PNR proposal. Indicate that, once it is adopted, UAE carriers
will be required to transmit PNR data to EU MS authorities.
Scene setter
Once the EU PNR proposal is adopted carriers operating flights from and to UAE (as
well as other third countries) will be required to transmit the PNR of their passengers
to the relevant MS law enforcement authorities. It is therefore important to inform
UAE of this prospect and obtain a reaction from them on whether there would be any
obstacles to their carriers transmitting the data.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
Line to take
On 2/2/2011 the Commission adopted a new proposal for a Directive on
the use of PNR data to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorist
offences and serious crime.
This means that all carriers operating flights in and out of the EU will have
to send the PNR data of their passengers to the relevant MS law
enforcement authorities.
The data will have to be sent twice in advance of the flight's departure
and it will have to be sent electronically, using specific messaging formats
(those of ICAO) and using the 'push' method.
The data will used for fighting terrorism and serious crime, and it will be
retained for 5 years, but will be depersonalised after 30 days
Strong data protection guarantees will be provided and all passengers,
irrespective of nationality, will have their rights fully protected.
Carriers who do not comply with this will face sanctions.
Our decision making process on this proposal proceeded well in Council
but still needs to go through the European Parliament. It could come into
force during 2013. After that, there will be a 2-3 year transposition period
for MS.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
Background information
Description of the file:
The Commission proposal for a Framework Decision on the use of passenger name
records (PNR) for law enforcement was adopted in November 2007 under the Nice
Treaty. It received strong support at the informal meetings of Ministers of Justice
and Home Affairs in January, July and November 2008. Great progress was achieved
during discussions in the relevant Council working group and consensus was reached
on the majority of items.
The Stockholm programme called upon the Commission to present an EU PNR
proposal to prevent, detect and investigate terrorism and serious crime. On 2/2/2011
the Commission adopted a new proposal for a Directive on the use of PNR data to
prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorist offences and serious crime. A
new Impact Assessment was also adopted for this proposal.
The main aspects of the proposal are the following:
purpose limitation: terrorist offences and serious crime
geographical scope: international flights – review on intra-EU flights to be done 2
years after the adoption of the instrument
sensitive data: absolute prohibition to their use
period of data retention: 30 days in full use and 5 years in a depersonalised
database. Re-personalisation of the data permitted if there is a specific
investigation
data protection: the right of access, rectification, erasure, compensation, redress,
data security and confidentiality of processing are taken from the Framework
Decision of Data Protection. Oversight will be exercised by the national
supervisory authority established by the Framework Decision of Data Protection.
transfers to third countries: permitted but under very strict conditions
transfers to private entities: absolute prohibition
The Council adopted a common approach on the file on 26 April 2012. The common
approach is very close to the original commission proposal with 2 main changes: (i)
voluntary inclusion of targeted intra-EU flights, (ii) extension of the fully personalised
period of retention from 30 days to 2 years.
Even though the EP started working on the file, discussions have been suspended
indefinitely pending the resolution of a dispute between the council and the EP on
the Schengen Evaluation proposals. In any case, the discussions in the EP pointed
towards a substantial narrowing of all aspects of the proposal.
(A3,
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
BACKGROUND: COUNTRY FICHE
Head of State: President Khalifa
Human Development Index: 32/169 (UNDP
bin Zayed al-Nahyan
2010)
Form of state: Federation of 7
Democracy Index: 148 out of 167 (EIU 2010)
emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Sharjah, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah,
Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah.
Independence (from UK) in 1971.
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Corruption Perception index: 28/178 (TI 2010)
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-
Nahyan
Capital: Abu Dhabi city
2010 GDP: €160 bln; GDP per capita: €32,700
[Eurostat 2009]
Population: around 6 million (est.
Real GDP growth 2010-2011: 3.2% (IMF
2010) out of which only
20% UAE
estim.)
citizens (estimate)
Oil: 4 h largest world oil exporter
Literacy rate: 78%
(2009).
Life expectancy at birth: 76.5
EU-UAE Trade 2010: Exports to UAE €27.7
years
mio; imports from UAE €5.6 mio [Eurostat]
Sunni/Shia ratio of Muslim
Parliament: Unicameral Federal National
population: 85/15 (est.)
Council of 20 appointed and 20 elected
members representing the separate emirates; it
has a consultative role only. Latest elections
24.09.2011
Political
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are a federation of seven emirates (monarchies) of
which Abu Dhabi is the most powerful: this is why the ruler of Abu Dhabi is also the
President of the UAE. Dubai ranks second which is why its ruler is the UAE Prime
Minister. The Parliament has no real powers. Half of its 40 members are elected, but
only by a small electorate selected by the government. Elections were held on 24
September but only a fraction (28%) of the some 130,000 voters cast their ballots.
The UAE has escaped unrest so far, not least as the very small local population
enjoys one of the world’s highest GDP/capita. However, since the eruption of Arab
Spring unrest in the wider region, the UAE authorities have shown signs of
nervousness, tightening their grip on associations and human rights defenders, five
of which were sentenced to up to three years in prison on 27 November but granted
presidential pardon immediately afterwards (probably also thanks to strong
international pressure on their case).
Less than 20 percent of the population are native citizens, the rest being foreign
workers, mostly from the Indian subcontinent. Their work and life conditions are often
dreadful; domestic legislation and international conventions on migrant workers’
protection exist but are rarely enforced.
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
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UAE views on key foreign policy issues
UAE has recently shown willingness to participate in contentious causes on the side
of the West: it is a strong US ally and in Afghanistan the only Arab country
undertaking full-scale operations. It was the only Muslim country to participate in the
Kosovo peacekeeping force KFOR. UAE joined the coalition which carried out
military operations in Libya on 24 March 2011. UAE contribution consisted of six F-16
Falcon and six Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
In
Bahrain, UAE joined Saudi Arabia in spearheading the military GCC mission in
support of the government. Abu Dhabi is generally closely aligned with Riyadh.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran have enjoyed strong bilateral
relations for many years. In 2011, ties got strained by the UAE’s increased
cooperation with the international community in enforcing sanctions imposed
against Iran. Relations were also hampered by the Islamic Republic’s alleged
support of Shi’a protestors in Bahrain and the UAE’s denunciation of Iran’s
activities. Both countries are members of the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of the
Islamic Conference and have cooperated extensively both inside and outside
these multilateral forums. Though the two countries have been in a low-level
dispute for many years over the ownership of three islands in the Persian
Gulf—the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa— they nevertheless enjoy
close relations based largely on mutually beneficial economic relations.
Economy
Oil in Abu Dhabi and Dubai was historically the cornerstone of UAE's economic
development. Nowadays only Abu Dhabi has considerable oil resources which are
also the pillar of its political power inside the UAE. Dubai successfully diversified into
a trade, financial, logistical and tourism hub. However, Dubai's high-fly ambitions
were dampened by the 2009 financial crisis and the need for a bail-out from Abu
Dhabi. The UAE federal budget is mainly financed by Abu Dhabi.
EU – UAE relations
Formal relations between the EU and UAE take place in the context of the 1988 EU-
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cooperation Agreement. UAE is currently holding
the 1-year rotating presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (until December
2011). On 20 April 2011 UAE hosted the annual EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting in Abu
Dhabi, attended and co-chaired by HRVP C. Ashton.
Contact:
, EEAS Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq Division
Tel
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Meeting with UAE Ambassador
Brussels, 26/06/12, 15:30
Annex:
22nd EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting
Luxembourg, 25 June 2012
DRAFT AGENDA
1.
Adoption of the Agenda
2.
EU and the GCC: key developments and challenges
3.
Global Issues
4.
Developments in the broader region
5.
Any other business
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