Brussels, 30 May 2022
MEPs met representatives of Iraqi government and visited the EU Advisory Mission to assess its work and to discuss the situation in the country following the defeat of Daesh.
A delegation of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence travelled to Iraq from 23 to 26 May. The core objective of the mission was to better understand the operational realities on the ground, following the recent decision to extend the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) mandate.
MEPs travelled to the capital Baghdad and to Erbil, in the Kurdistan region. They met with the Federal and Regional Presidents, Ministers, Parliamentarians as well as the Prime Minister of Iraq. Subcommittee on Security and Defence MEPs also exchanged views with the Head of the EU Delegation, EU Ambassadors and consul generals, representatives of NATO and the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission established in order to formalize ongoing military actions against the rising threat posed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
The EU remains fully committed to supporting the sovereignty, stability and security of Iraq. Our partnership must focus on common challenges and priorities: the fight against the resurgence of Daesh, continuous cooperation to address human trafficking, and efforts towards reconstruction and the return of Internally Displaced Persons. We must also work together on a sustainable solution to the challenges posed by the Al Hol camp.
In concluding the visit, Nathalie Loiseau, the Chair of SEDE stated:
“The EU-Iraq partnership on security is important and necessary. It raises high expectations on both sides. In order to be the most effective, every side must do its part. We expect a new functioning Iraqi government as soon as possible as well as strong cooperation between the Iraqi Federal authorities and the Kurdish Regional authorities in order to ensure a united approach to dealing with Daesh and other regional security priorities.
On the EU side, we end this visit convinced that the EU Advisory Mission must undergo an in-depth re-organization in order to focus on shared priorities and deliver concrete results. SEDE will continue to monitor and assess progress in this important area of cooperation.”
Composition of the delegation
The Members of the delegation were the following:
- Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew Europe, France), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Head of the delegation
- Arnaud DANJEAN (EPP, France)
- Juozas OLEKAS (S&D, Lithuania)
- Urmas PAET (Renew, Estonia)
- Javier NART (Renew, Spain)
- Lars Patrick BERG (ECR, Germany).
- Assita KANKO (ECR, Belgium).
Background
The EU remains committed to Iraq, as the country’s economic recovery and the consolidation of its democracy are key to promoting stability in Iraq, the wider region and in Europe. Iraq has experienced decades of conflicts and the long war against the Islamic State. According to UNHCR, more than three million Iraqis continue to be internally displaced, and it is estimated that over 11 million Iraqis are currently in need of humanitarian assistance.