Baghdad: The European Union affirmed today its commitment to expanding cooperation with Iraq. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that “the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Bahr Al-Uloom, received the European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Clemens Zimmtner.” The Undersecretary affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the European Union and elevating the level of cooperation across various fields, particularly political, economic, and developmental.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Iraq views the European Union as a reliable partner and a supporter of stability and growth. For his part, the EU Ambassador affirmed that “the Union considers Iraq a strong and pivotal partner in the region,” emphasizing “the necessity of continued development of the Iraqi economy and support for the stability the country is witnessing, which contributes to enhancing its ability to fulfill its regional and international role.”

He noted “the EU member states’ keenness to expand cooperation with Iraq in the coming phase,” explaining that the two sides discussed the issue of ending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the mechanisms for transitioning to a new phase of cooperation focused on technical and institutional support. He added, “They also discussed the latest developments regarding the Syrian crisis and affirmed the continuation of coordination on regional developments of mutual interest.”