On Tuesday 12 September, many MEPs called on the European Union to play an active role in the negotiations with North Korea to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.
"We must intensify the diplomatic efforts to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear tests and ballistic programmes. The EU could develop a more proactive policy and take – with South Korea, Japan and the USA – the measures that are needed", the chair of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, David McAllister (EPP, Germany), said on behalf of his group at a plenary session. According to McAllister, the agreement reached on the Iranian nuclear programme "may be a model to use to move forward".
Several of his colleagues shared his opinion. "We need negotiations similar to those with Iran, with the European Union as mediator, and involving Russia and China", Fabio Castaldo (EFDD, Italy) added. Hilde Vautmans (ALDE, Belgium) hoped that the EU would have the "patience" and "determination" to address the situation in North Korea in the same way as the dialogue with Iran.
Boris Zala (S&D, Slovakia) said that the EU could be "the missing link" for the discussions because it has both the necessary distance and credibility. "It can be seen that if we work effectively together, as was the case in cooperating on the Iranian nuclear agreement, the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is eminently possible", added Victor Bostinaru (S&D, Romania).
Strongly supported by MEPs, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the EU would try to preserve international unity and work with all its partners – especially the USA, China and Russia – so as to open up diplomatic channels. "When I speak of channels, I speak of a mechanism for mediation, for diplomatic talks that could ensure credible discussions. The conditions need to be established for credible and meaningful negotiations" to take place, she said. While speaking of the "competence" and "know-how" acquired by the EU in the negotiations with Iran, Mogherini said that these were two different situations because an "essential" element was currently missing to be able to hold discussions: Pyongyang's "political resolve". In Mogherini's view, if this resolve exists, negotiations will be possible even if they "take a lot of time".
Like many MEPs, Mogherini hailed the adoption on Monday 11 September of a new resolution by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – a resolution that requires new sanction against North Korea. "The UNSC has done what is right for strengthening pressure on North Korea while asking it for a political solution to the crisis with a real political dialogue", she said, adding that the EU was asked to adopt new autonomous measures.
The new UN sanctions include a progressive embargo on oil and a ban on importing North Korean textiles. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)