The chairman of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Korean peninsula, Nirj Deva (ECR, British), supported by several MEPs, called on the European Union to move closer to North Korea on Tuesday 13 November.
"We must help the international community in its efforts to guarantee peace [in the Korean peninsula, editor's note] and in the meantime, our contribution is to help [North Korea, editor's note] on a humanitarian level", he stressed at a conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "Let's start with humanitarian aid, the North Koreans need us, we must help the poorest in this country", he added, highlighting an undernutrition situation in the country.
If, according to Mr Deva, before lifting any sanctions, the effectiveness of which is debated, "measures must be put in place to increase confidence and have bilateral contacts", according to Bruno Gollnisch (NI, France), a relaxation is necessary. The latter highlighted North Korea's initial efforts, such as stopping missile launches.
According to him, the North Koreans complain that in exchange for their efforts, they have not achieved anything and the sanctions affect the poorest segments of the population. "Europe could make a different voice heard by at least proposing to reduce sanctions on basic necessities, for example, agricultural equipment", he explained. For example, Mr Gollnisch explained that the EU was financing a model farm in the country, but that sanctions prevented the supply of agricultural equipment.
Mr Deva also highlighted the potential of the relationship. According to him, the North Koreans perceive the EU as "a reliable interlocutor with significant power of influence". Paul Rübig (EPP, Austria), Vice-President of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula, said that the EU should be neutral and "help the North and South Korea to establish a peace agreement".
Mr Deva travelled to North Korea in early November with several MEPs. One of the objectives of its approach is to use the progress made in recent months to improve the dialogue between the EU and Pyongyang.
In particular, the delegation met with members of the Supreme People's Assembly. "The North Korean Parliament would like to send representatives to the European Parliament and would like to invite the Chairman of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee to come to Pyongyang", Mr Deva explained, adding that an interparliamentary meeting could be held in the first half of 2019. "It is important to keep in touch with the Supreme Assembly, and to intensify these contacts", added Michael Detjen (S&D, Germany). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Solenn Paulic)