Ylva Johansson addresses reports on Qatar visa discussions with Dimitris Avramopoulos

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has addressed media reports suggesting she discussed the lifting of visa requirements for Qatar with her predecessor, Dimitris Avramopoulos, during a March 2020 meeting in Brussels. Johansson stated that she does not recall the specifics of the 2020 meeting clearly, but emphasized that she had very few interactions with Avramopoulos. She formally denied that Avramopoulos raised the issue of Qatar visa waivers during their discussions. This statement comes amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding the former commissioner. Meanwhile, the Hellenic Parliament's Committee on Institutions and Transparency is reportedly scheduling a meeting for next Tuesday or Wednesday to discuss the potential lifting of Avramopoulos's parliamentary immunity. The former commissioner is expected to present his position during these proceedings. These developments are separate from Johansson's recent focus on the High-Level European Council on Skills, where she and Executive Vice-President Roxana Minzatu presented the SPARKs initiative for adult education and workforce development.