Iraq eyes role in EuroMed to boost diplomatic ties

Iraq has asked to take part in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Euro-Med), the EU’s forum for relations with Mediterranean countries, as part of a diplomatic push to improve relations with Europe.

Member states are considering Iraq’s application, but no decision has yet been taken. Member states are also considering requests from Albania and Mauritania to become full members of EuroMed.

If accepted Albania, Mauritania and Iraq could take part in efforts to create a Mediterranean free trade area by 2010 and be eligible for some of the €343 million that the European Commission provides to encourage investment in the region.

EuroMed brings together the EU, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Libya and the Arab League have observer status.

According to one Iraqi diplomat, the move would help Iraq develop its nascent diplomatic relations with the EU. "Iraq is trying to establish good relations with the EU, it is not something out of the ordinary, it is not an extraordinary request," he said.

A diplomat from one non-EU country said that Iraq and Mauritania were not yet ready to meet EuroMed’s democratic, human rights and trade requirements. "I’m not sure they are there yet," he said.

EU member states have not been able to agree on how to respond to the three countries. According to one EU diplomat involved in the talks, there are divisions in the EU over how to treat applications.

"We are still discussing what criteria, if any, we apply," said the diplomat. "We don’t have any criteria except that the country has to be somehow Mediterranean, but Jordan, one of the founder members of the Barcelona process, is not on the Mediterranean."

Joining EuroMed could also be a step towards becoming eligble for funds under the EU’s neighbourhood policy, which has a budget of €12 billion in assistance from 2007-2013.

But the Commission has advised member states that Mauritania would get less EU assistance funding through EuroMed than it does today from the European Development Funds which are devoted to the African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

Mauritania’s request to become a member had been suspended after a military coup in August 2005, but according to one diplomat its application is now "being seriously considered". Albania too gets substantial EU funding as part of the EU’s assistance to the Balkans.

Iraq has asked to take part in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Euro-Med), the EU’s forum for relations with Mediterranean countries, as part of a diplomatic push to improve relations with Europe.