Joint Statement of EU social partners calling for the Immediate suspension and reassessment of the EU-Qatar Air Transport Agreement

We, the undersigned European social partners of civil aviation, representing both employers and employees in the wider civil aviation sector, wish to reiterate our serious concern regarding the EU-Qatar Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement.

Recent developments have further weakened confidence in the integrity and transparency of the process through which this agreement was negotiated and is being applied. Pending full clarification of corruption allegations, the agreement should be immediately suspended. Unrestricted market access to the European Union cannot be the product of compromised negotiations.

According to media reports published in late January 2026, the European Commission has decided to terminate the employment of one of its highest-ranking officials, under whose leadership the negotiations of the deal took place. This dismissal followed an inquiry by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and an internal disciplinary procedure. Reports refer to concerns related to compliance with rules on conflicts of interest, transparency, gift acceptance, and document disclosure.

These events occur in a broader context of heightened scrutiny of relations between EU institutions and Qatar, within the field of aviation and beyond, reinforcing the need for prudence, transparency, and credibility in this file. This is all the more justified, because – as employers and employees have long expressed – the Agreement fails to establish an overall economic balance and has failed to deliver on fair competition. At a time when European air carriers are facing mounting regulatory challenges and global competitive pressures, it is essential that international aviation agreements demonstrably support a level playing field and do not further weaken the economic and social sustainability of the sector.

In light of the above, and while further inquiries and assessments remain ongoing, we believe it is both inevitable and necessary to pause the provisional application of this agreement in order to restore trust and ensure that any final outcome fully aligns with the EU’s principles of transparency, fair competition, and social responsibility.