Brussels, 20/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday morning 20 March, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini used the European Council as an opportunity to hold discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and the French President François Hollande, regarding negotiations with Iran about the nuclear dossier. Germany, France and the United Kingdom are the three European countries taking part in the negotiations.
The meeting helped assess the situation and subsequently develop a coordinated European position. It lasted around 40 minutes. The cut-off date for reaching a political agreement is 31 March, before a comprehensive agreement before 30 June. Quoted by AFP, sources close to the EU High Representative, said, “it was important to have the three (leaders) in the same room, so as to have a firm and coordinated position”.
Merkel asserted, “We again confirmed that we wanted to conclude as soon as possible and we confirmed our support for a negotiated solution”. Hollande explained that the discussions continued on a number of questions such as research and development and to ensure that the research went in the direction of civilian nuclear purposes and the possible lifting of sanctions as soon as there is a certainty that Iran has abandoned any attempts to obtain nuclear weapons. (Camille-Cerise Gessant, with JC and SP)