EU Parliament Call for UN Peace-keeping force in Iraq

Foreign troops in Iraq should be replaced by a UN peace-keeping force, the European Parliament said in a resolution adopted on Wednesday by 345 votes in favour, 109 against and 167 abstentions. The EU should promote a new Security Council resolution to this end. MEPs also advocated the setting up of an independent Commission, consisting of UN, EU and Iraqi experts, to investigate past human rights crimes.

MEPs stressed the need to look forward, but did express their concern over the deteriorating security situation and their sadness at the thousands of civilians and 1700 foreign troops who have died since the beginning of the invasion. They hoped that "the lessons learned from the Iraq war will lead to more multilateral, democratic and results-oriented conflict management worldwide in the future". MEPs recognised that the fall of the "repressive" regime of Saddam Hussein had paved the way towards a peaceful, secure and democratic future for the Iraqi people. But in view of the present insecure situation, the international community, MEPs felt, "has a moral and political duty to respond". A new UN resolution should provide for the possibility that countries not taking part in the war participate in the training of Iraqi armed forces and police.

EU assistance should remedy the shortcomings of the past and bring about a better understanding of Iraqi society. The future political institutions of Iraq should reflect the will of the Iraqi people and preserve the country's unity in a federal state. Democratisation, the rights of minorities and of women, and the rule of law were still seen as matters of concern by MEPs, although they also signalled a number hopeful developments, such as the fact that the government comprises members of the Sunni minority and that the Transitional National Assembly consists of 31% women. The EU should make a serious commitment to aid the general elections slated for December, by financing electoral assistance and sending observers. It should also offer its assistance in the drafting of a new constitution. Iraq's neighbouring countries could also play an important role in the process of pacification, preserving Iraq's unity and building the democratic process, MEPs said.

Parliament said that EU reconstruction aid should be aimed at providing basic services such as primary healthcare, education, clean drinking water and proper sanitation and work actively with the Iraqi authorities in the fight against terrorism. It expressed its surprise that reconstruction funds are partly administered by the World Bank and not entirely by the UN. Furthermore, the Iraqis should have full control over their oil production.

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• Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner - The EU and Iraq: A Framework for Engagement (6/7/2005)
• EU Parliament - UN force should replace foreign troops in Iraq  (15/6/2005)
• EUHR Solana remarks on first EU Ministerial Troika visit to Iraq (9/6/2005)