Summary: 25 May 2009, Brussels - The European Commission and the Government of Iraq are holding on 25-27 May 2009 another round of negotiations aimed at concluding a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). This will be the eighth round of talks since negotiations started in November 2006, the most recent of which were held in Baghdad at the end of last February. During that round it was agreed to upgrade the draft Agreement from one on Trade and Cooperation to a more comprehensive Partnership Agreement, which provides for annual Ministerial meetings and the creation of a Cooperation Council. The negotiations will be led on the Iraqi side by Mohammed Haj Hammoud, Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Hugues Mingarelli, Deputy Director-General for External Relations, for the Commission.
Launched in November 2006, the PCA negotiations will lead to the first ever contractual agreement between the EU and Iraq. The agreement will provide for political dialogue on bilateral, regional and global issues wherever the EU and Iraq have a shared interest in working together. Its aim is also to improve the trade arrangements between Iraq and the EU, to promote investment and to integrate the country in the international economy. Furthermore, it sets out a framework for continuing
cooperation in many areas. The previous rounds of negotiations have been very productive, with many chapters already agreed in areas such as combating terrorism, countering proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cooperating on energy and promoting human rights.
The current negotiation process underlines the European Union's determination to play a significant role in Iraq's transition and to help Iraq to improve living conditions for its citizens. This commitment is also reflected in over 900 billion Euros already contributed by the European Commission to the reconstruction of Iraq since 2003, with a focus on assisting the Iraqi people in accessing basic services, furthering democracy and promoting good governance.
After the conclusion of this round, the main negotiators will brief the press, on Wednesday 27 May at 4 pm. Journalists wanting to attend the briefing should contact José Díez Verdejo (temporarily replacing Concha Fernández de la Puente).
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