Hannah Neumann, chairwoman of the committee responsible for relations with the Arabian Peninsula, talks to about her trip to Doha which was “blown up” at the last minute by the Qatari government
The German MEP Hannah Neumann, instead of whom Eva Kaili traveled to Qatar last November, spoke to SKAI about the background that preceded it, but also about the zeal with which her Greek colleague defended Qatar’s policy in a series of issues with her public positions for which the emirate was internationally accountable.
“We have been planning a trip to Qatar almost since the beginning of my term, two years ago. The plan was to go in the first two weeks of November this year, right before the Soccer World Cup to assess the situation with migrant labour, to assess what is happening with migrants’ rights, but also the football stadiums. When I returned from summer vacation to discuss this trip with the Qatari ambassador in early November, he canceled the trip to my surprise, saying the parliament building was under renovation, and we couldn’t go. I kept trying to find a way for us to go, because it was a very important mission for me, but there was no way. So, I accepted the refusal” said Mrs. Neumann characteristically.
When were you informed that Eva Kaili took your place?
“Then, while I was in Brussels, because I couldn’t go to Qatar with my delegation, I learned that Eva Kaili was in Qatar and she was meeting exactly the people we were going to meet, high officials of Qatar, and she made very positive statements about the situation in Qatar, much more positive than the position of the entire European Parliament. He should have contacted me before, and we discussed politically what the message would be, and coordinated it. None of that happened, and I found out through Twitter that he was there.”
It is recalled that Mrs. Kaili returned to Brussels and left her colleagues stunned with her warm words about labor rights in Qatar.
“It was a surprise to all of us how positive her speech was. Even the Social Democrat colleagues looked shocked when Eva spoke. Clearly the position she said is not only in line with her party but also with the entire Parliament.
Why did Qatar choose Kaili for this trip?
“They canceled the invitation of the one that was more balanced and critical, a women’s delegation, and invited someone they preferred. Because we all know that Eva Kaili supports Qatar with her positions. They would definitely prefer her to say very positive things. I was annoyed because in Parliament we are playing against each other and I thought this is a “fighting game”. When she came back, I spoke to her, I had a meeting with her, I told her that I found it unfair and a wrong image to the outside. But I never imagined until Friday that this was because of a lot of money. She told me that her office should have informed me but they forgot. That was her answer.”
Like other colleagues, Hannah Neumann could not believe what happened on Friday.
“At first I couldn’t believe it, it sounded like those mafia movies on Netflix, but it was my job, and Brussels, the capital of the European Union. Then I felt quite angry about the people who are suspicious. They are my colleagues with whom I had political disagreements, “battles”. But I always believed that these political differences were based on purely political differences, and not on suitcases full of money» states characteristics.
As Neumann emphasizes, after the scandal at the heart of the European Parliament the rules must be revised and that there should be more transparency so that such phenomena do not repeat themselves.
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I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have been an author at News Bulletin 247 for the past 2 years. I mostly cover politics news. I am a highly experienced and respected journalist. I have won numerous awards for my work.
