Iraq: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell before the EU-Iraq Cooperation Council

Check against delivery!  Good afternoon to everybody.  I am very happy to have the opportunity to welcome the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Minister Fuad [Mohammed] Hussein, for this [EU-Iraq] Cooperation Council. 

I see that the Minister comes with [an] important delegation - a very large delegation accompanying you, dear Minister - and the presence of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the European Union's side tonight at the meeting, reflects the importance that both sides attach to this partnership and to this Cooperation Council meeting. You know that the Council Cooperation is the highest level of our bilateral engagement with Iraq. This is the third Council that takes place after a pause of seven years - too many years.

But after this pause, we have already had - with today [included] - three Councils. The pause was mainly due to the situation in Iraq which was very dire years ago. More recently, also for the impact of [the pandemic of] COVID-19.

But the COVID-19 has gone, and Iraq has made a lot of progress - considerable progress - and it is in our interest to contribute to further stabilising the situation and support the authorities. This meeting will show that we want, Minister, to enhance our cooperation building on what we already have, which is a solid partnership. Because among other things, we are important trading partners.

We have an excellent cooperation in [in the field of] security. We are part of the Anti-Da'esh Coalition. We have our civilian mission, our [EU] Assistance Mission in Iraq [EUAM Iraq] which assists you on the security sector reform.

And after a difficult post Da'esh period, Iraq now has a government with an ambitious domestic agenda that includes a lot of reforms. And I commend the Prime Minister [of Iraq, Mohammed Shia] al-Sudani for making the fight against corruption a high priority for his government.  On our side, we are keen to support such reforms and encourage our Iraqi friends to remain on this course. 

Minister, the Iraqi government can count on our help - for the benefit of the Iraqi people, but also for the sake of regional stability. Because yes, we appreciate a lot the constructive role of Iraq in this region.  We have seen recently Saudi Arabia and Iran normalising their relations.

This will add more stability to the region. And let's not forget that the first round of negotiations leading to a positive outcome took place in Baghdad. Baghdad was the theatre of this important rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. 

That is a good reason to welcome your policy as a good neighbourhood relations maker: not only you are stabilising your country, but you are contributing to stabilise the region.  And at the same time, we condemn the attacks against Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty.  Minister, my colleague Commissioner [for Home Affairs, Ylva] Johansson will also participate in the Council.

Commissioner Johansson - as you know - is in charge of home affairs, that include migration. Migration is an important area where we have to make progress together, sooner than later. Our agenda today is much wider than that.

And Minister, I am very much looking forward to our exchanges, first bilaterally, and then in the Cooperation Council with your delegation, and quite an impressive number of Foreign [Affairs] ministers of Member States of the [European] Union, who will be with us tonight.   Thank you.  Q&A

Q. Mr Borrell, may I ask you a question about this diplomatic breakthrough. If this breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran where Iraq played a role ... [inaudible].

I would like to ask you if you expect this to enhance - let's say - or bring more stability to the region by the fact that Iran has to stop its interference in the internal affairs of the countries in the region. Plus, would this agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran ease the difficulties ahead of the JCPOA?  It is certainly good news, the fact that two countries who were - let's say - in a difficult relationship, decided to restart diplomatic engagement and to send Ambassadors.

That can only contribute to the stability of the region and ease tensions.   The JCPOA is a different issue. The JCPOA has its own government bodies.

We continue working on that. A good relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran is good for everything, but the JCPOA has its own dynamics.  Q.

What is the current state of EU-Iraq relation? And what steps is the European Union taking to support Iraq towards stability and prosperity?  This is a general question that has a concrete answer.

Our relations are a powerful driver for prosperity for Iraq because, as I said, we are the most important trade partner. Just that justifies that, we have to be in a very good relation. Apart from that, we share the same approaches on many geopolitical problems: fight against terrorism, the need for Iraq to have international support, in order to increase its political stability.

Our relations will be for sure a solid contribution to the prosperity and stability of Iraq.  Q. What kind of help will the European Union provide to Iraq?

We have many things in Iraq, for example in the politics, the economy. What are you going to do for Iraq?  Have a look at the result of the meeting and you will find there a good answer.

We have a very rich agenda, we will touch about all the topics that mark our relations. Your question was more or less the same as your colleague. I cannot tell you now, what is going to be the result of our meeting, but I am sure that we will cover a lot of issues in which we could improve our relations for the mutual benefit of all of us.  

We are the most important trade partners of Iraq, and we are a considerable force for stability. I think that our relation will contribute a lot to the stability of the region, the prosperity of the country. Also, for us, Iraq [is] important, Iraq is an important supplier of energy but not only that.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-239018