Brussels, 14/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 July, exactly a year to the day after the conclusion of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme (EUROPE 11359), High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini reaffirmed, on behalf of the EU, the EU's resolve to engage with Iran.
“Pleased” to note that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is being implemented, Mogherini stated in her press release that the respect of commitments by all parties to the JCPOA was a necessary condition for re-establishing trust and enabling regular and progressive improvement in relations between the EU, its member states and Iran (EUROPE 11554). The Europeans have called on Iran to refrain from activities incompatible with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which supports the JCPOA.
According to Mogherini, this commitment will be made on the basis of “a strategy of gradual engagement that is comprehensive in scope, cooperative where there is mutual interest, critical when there are differences, and constructive in practice”. In Mogherini's press release, therefore, “the European Union reaffirms its commitment to further developing relations with Iran, in particular in areas such as trade, energy, human rights, civil nuclear cooperation, migration, [the] environment, [the] fight against transnational threats such as drugs, humanitarian cooperation, transport, research, education, culture and regional issues”. The EU also wants to participate in the improvement of the regional situation, believing that the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme creates the possibility for improving regional cooperation.
Mogherini also stated that in order for Tehran to take full advantage of the lifting of sanctions, it is important that it overcomes obstacles related to economic and fiscal policy, the business environment and the rule of law. American extra-territorial measures still constrain the re-engagement of European companies and banks in Iran, however (EUROPE 11555). “The EU and its member states stand ready to cooperate with Iran in these areas and to provide technical assistance, including on compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements, and to consider the use of export credits to facilitate trade, project financing, and investment”, Mogherini added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)