The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, reaffirmed on Thursday 20 January in Brussels their willingness to further strengthen relations between the EU and Iraq.
“The relationship with the EU will be developed in the future. We need this partnership to build our economy, to refinance our infrastructure, the cities destroyed because of the fight against the Islamic State”, the Minister explained to the media. Mr Borrell recalled that since 2014, the EU has provided more than €1.3 billion to Iraq to support economic development, security and humanitarian assistance. The EU also has an advisory mission on security sector reform in Iraq (EUAM).
During the meeting, the High Representative and the Minister discussed Iraqi and regional security, economic reforms and migration. Mr Hussein explained that a plan should be discussed soon regarding the return of Iraqi migrants to their country.
Mr Borrell also announced that the next EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Council would be held “soon”, in conjunction with a Foreign Affairs Council, so that Mr Hussein could meet his European counterparts. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)