By NNN-KUNA
Brussels : Members of the European Parliament are calling for greater EU involvement in Iraq, increased transparency and efficiency of the EU aid, and more support for the United Nations’ efforts in the country.
A report on Iraq debated in the European Parliament in Strasbourg Wednesday night urged the EU Council “to adopt, together with the Commission, a new strategy that will step up, both in quantitative and — especially — in qualitative terms, EU support for UN efforts to help build a safe, stable, unified, prosperous, federal, and democratic Iraq.”
Portuguese MEP Ana Maria Gomes, who drafted the report, said the main message is that Europe has a golden opportunity to bring a positive contribution to the fate of Iraq and the region. “Europe has a legal and moral duty to care about Iraq,” she said.
On her part, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the House that the Iraqi government has expressed its eagerness to work with the EU. “We shall explore ways to take direct action as has been asked by the Parliament, bearing in mind, however, the security environment,” said the Commissioner.
Since 2003, the EU has committed about 829 million Euro to Iraqi reconstruction.
Janez Lenarcic, Slovenian Minister for European Affairs, speaking on behalf of the Council, called for dialogue and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey.
Slovenia holds the current EU Presidency.
The European Parliament will vote Thursday on the report which was adopted by its Foreign Affairs Committee by an overwhelming majority in February.