EU in push to start trade talks with Iraq

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 08/06/06

Negotiations are to begin shortly with Iraq on a trade and co-operation agreement, following the appointment of a new government last month.

Foreign ministers are expected to examine the matter when they meet on Monday (12 June) in Luxembourg. EU government leaders will also discuss the accord at next week's (15-16 June) European Council.

The agreement would see Iraq bring its legislation in line with World Trade Organization standards, in return for the EU actively supporting Iraq's membership of the body and providing technical assistance.

It would also allow Iraq to take part in the EU's 'generalised system of preferences' which would reduce import tariffs on a range of Iraqi goods.

Last night (7 June) the European Commission sent member states detailed proposals on how to boost ties with Iraq, including supporting the review of the country's constitution and promoting economic reform.

Some EU member states, including the UK, are now pressing for the negotiations on the trade and co-operation agreement to begin as soon as possible.

According to the Commission's report, the EU could also provide technical assistance to Iraq's energy sector in order to boost exports to Europe.

But the security situation has continued to deteriorate since the EU last set out its strategy on Iraq in 2004. Instability continues to slow down progress on the political track. "Even meetings will be difficult given the situation on the ground," said one official.

Over the next few weeks ministers and officials will also discuss how the EU can improve the security situation in the country. The focus is currently on extending the EU's efforts in training senior law enforcement officials and strengthening the judiciary.

A current EU rule of law mission ends on 1 July. It is expected to be extended but is unlikely to begin training Iraqi officials inside Iraq.

The Commission, however, has suggested focusing the EU's mission more on training judges in civil and criminal matters, in addition to the training of the police.

But the scope of what the EU does continues to be complicated by political sensitivities over the invasion of Iraq. Those sensitivities have been underscored by the recent elections in Italy. The new government, led by Prime Minister Romano Prodi, has said that Italian troops will be withdrawn before the end of this year. Italy currently has around 2,600 troops in Iraq.

Questions are also being raised in some member states about how they will continue to fund the EU's efforts to bolster the rule of law. For the EU's current rule of law mission only EUR 10 million is funded from the EU budget. A decision to expand the EU's actions is also being complicated by the involvement of a range of ministries in every member state.

A seminar will be held in Brussels on 14 June to discus the issue.

Article reports that negotiations were expected to begin shortly with Iraq on a trade and co-operation agreement, following the appointment of a new government in May 2006. EU Foreign Ministers were to examine the matter at their meeting on 12 June in Luxembourg. EU Government leaders were to discuss the accord at the European Council on 15-16 June 2006.

EEAS: Iraq http://www.eeas.europa.eu/iraq/index_en.htm

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