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Brussels Bulletin: Action on Iraq

Liberal Democrat News,
30 May 2008 Issue 998

This February, after many months of discussion, the European Parliament consolidated its thinking on Iraq and agreed to form a Permanent Ad-hoc Delegation composed of 13 members from different political groupings who elected me as Chairman.

This decisive move to take the lead in EU-Iraq relations is a strong indicator that internal EU divisions over the Iraq War are being bridged. It also reflects the growing awareness among EU Member States and the European Commission that Iraq is not only a potential major supplier of fossil fuel, which might in the future reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian supplies of crude oil and natural gas, but also a key player in securing peace and stability in the European Union’s wider neighbourhood and the entire Middle East.

Since its inception, the delegation has received two high ranking delegations from Iraq, the first headed by the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Sheikh al Atiya, the second led by Prime Minister Maliki. The Iraq Delegation also received Mr Stefan Dimistura, United Nations Special Envoy to Iraq, as well as Mr Hedi Larbi, World Bank Representative for the Middle East.

In response to the European Parliament’s initiative, the Iraqi Council of Representative has set up a matching delegation composed of high ranking members of all parties and chaired by Sheikh Hamoudi, who also chairs its Foreign Affairs Committee. Both delegations are scheduled to visit each other shortly.

The formation of the European Parliament’s Iraq Delegation comes in a decisive year for the future of Iraq. The Surge has given the country improved security, Sunni and Shiah factions are beginning to cooperate on a national level, a law on oil revenues is on the verge of passing parliament and the government is preparing to reform its outdated and dysfunctional health system. All players recognise that Iraq is at a turning point, and that the coming months will decide whether the country can become a stable democracy and a close partner of the EU in the Middle East.

Given Iraq’s geographical proximity to the EU and the EU’s own experience in rebuilding post-totalitarian societies, the EU - in its own interest - should do everything it can to create strong and lasting ties with the Republic of Iraq, to ensure a prosperous future for our potential next-door neighbour.

END

Emma Nicholson is a Member of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, Member of the EP sub-committee for Human Rights and President of the Permanent Ad-hoc Delegation for Relations with Iraq.

Liberal Democrat News, 30 May 2008 Issue 998, column is funded by the European Parliament