Brussels, 03/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 April, the European Parliament invited the Council, “subject to substantial progress being made in the negotiations on the nuclear issue”, to start a discussion on specific steps that could lead to an “improvement in bilateral relations between the EU and Iran”. Specifically, the EP referred to: - a possible future contractual framework for these relations; - the development of sectorial cooperation (the development of civil society and the private sector in Iran, the fight against drugs, environmental cooperation, technological transfer, development of infrastructure, education and culture, protection of children's health, and joint initiatives to promote and protect human rights).
In its adoption of a resolution by María Muñiz De Urquiza (S&D, Spain) on behalf of the committee on foreign affairs of the EP, the Parliament hopes that the progress made in the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action and in the framework of negotiations on the Geneva agreement on Iran's nuclear programme “will pave the way for more constructive relations between the EU and Iran, including as regards issues of regional concern such as the civil war in Syria and the fight against all forms of terrorism and its causes, but also in areas such as economic development, trade agreements, the rule of law and the promotion of human rights”.
The EP also expresses its concern about the possible outbreak of infectious diseases such as polio and measles, particularly among children, and urges the EU to ease access to relevant medication, which has otherwise been difficult to obtain because of the sanctions.
The MEPs call on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to complete its preparatory work with a view to opening a delegation of the EU into Iran “by the end of 2014”. The EP “strongly believes” that this will be a powerful instrument for “influencing Iranian policies and would also support the dialogue on issues such as human rights and minority rights”. The MEPs call for the EU to include human rights and women's rights in all aspects of its relations with Iran. A high-level and inclusive dialogue on human rights should be part of the forthcoming political framework for EU-Iran bilateral relations, the EP pleads. “Any future Parliament delegations to Iran should be committed to meeting members of the political opposition and civil society activists, and to having access to political prisoners”, the EP stresses.
The members of the European Parliament also call on the Commission and the EEAS to use all tools available to them to empower and develop civil society and to assist human rights defenders in Iran and to increase exchanges between individuals. The Parliament urges EU to look into the possibility of extending technical assistance to Iran, in partnership with the international organisations, to help it in its planned reforms of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The EU should pursue a more independent policy towards Iran, while coordinating with allies and partners, the MEPs conclude. (CG)