By Xinhua
Brussels : Two European Union commissioners met respectively here on Thursday with Iraqi Minister of Oil Hussain Al-Shahristani to discuss the enhancement of energy cooperation between the 27-nation European bloc and oil-rich Iraq.
“Iraq is a natural energy partner for the EU, both as a producer of oil and gas and as a transit country for hydrocarbon resources from the Middle East and the Gulf to the EU,” said Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
She said that energy was a key element for Iraq’s economic development, and the EU energy market as the largest integrated market in the world, “offers interesting opportunities for Iraq.”
“Therefore we have a mutual interest in exploring the possibility of an EU-Iraq Energy Partnership that could be beneficial for both sides,” said the commissioner.
Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs labeled diversificationas EU’s one of the main tools to improve security of supply, adding establishing stable frameworks for energy cooperation with potential new suppliers “is therefore a priority for us.”
“Both the EU and Iraq have much to gain from strong energy cooperation. As a first step we are keen to see Iraq play a full role in the Arab Gas Pipeline which will supply the EU including through the Nabucco,” he said.
The two sides also agreed to work together on the development of interconnections of Iraq’s gas infrastructure to the Arab Gas Pipeline.
The commissioners invited Minister Shahristani to participate in a ministerial conference in support of the Arab Gas Pipeline to be held in Brussels in the first half of 2008, a news release from the European Commission said.