Outcomes of the Interactive Symposium entitled "Iraq and the European Union: Prospects for Partnership and Reconstruction"
Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue RCD organized an interactive symposium entitled "Iraq and the European Union: Prospects for Partnership and Reconstruction", in April 9, 2019 on RCD's Sérgio Vieira de Mello Hall. At the symposium, His Excellency Ambassador of the European Union in Iraq, Mr. Ramon Plecoa, and His Excellency Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Iraq, Mr. Hendrik van Devlede, gave a valuable lecture on the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the European Union and the nature of the relationship between Iraq and the Kingdom of Belgium.
His Excellency Ambassador Ramon Plecoa had emphasized the European Union's role in supportting Iraq in its war against terrorism, in addition to providing assistance with regard to the reconstruction file, especially concerning the cities liberated from ISIS. He also stressed the need to develop an appropriate strategy to deal with these cities after liberation; in addition to that, many important files were addressed.
For his part, the Belgian ambassador stressed the importance of the relationship with Iraq, and referred to the support provided by Belgium during the war against ISIS as the fifth largest contributor to the international coalition. He added that the visit to Najaf indicates a new approach to Belgium's relationship with Iraq by focusing on cooperation in civil fields after defeating terrorism in Iraq.
The symposium was attended by a number of specialists, religious leaders, academics and State officials.
Below are the main conclusions and recommendations of the symposium.
Conclusions:
1. Iraq is going through an important historical turning point in this period, as it faces various challenges at various internal and external levels, which makes the Iraqi government in a sensitive position, especially with the tense relationship between Iran and the United States of America, which negatively affects Iraq. Accordingly, the European Union seeks to help Iraq out of these challenges.
2. There is a hard work to implement the terms of the partnership agreement signed between Iraq and the European Union in August 2018. This agreement is a road map aimed at building Iraq and its prosperity and achieving development and security for it and the region.
3. The security of the European Union does not start from the borders of the European Union (Greece to the east or Spain to the west), but from the Middle East region, of which Iraq is a part. Therefore, the axis of the fight against terrorism had taken two directions: the first within Iraq and the second within Europe.
4. After eliminating terrorism, there is a need for the reconstruction of the liberated areas, which strengthens the bonds of the relationship between the people and the government, and this relationship is determined in the light of the social contract, provided that the latter includes providing the best services to the people. This is one of the fundamental factors of the partnership between the European Union and Iraq.
5. European assistance to Iraq is based on providing important expertise and interest in economic reform, and the Iraqis must be the active part in the process of reconstruct their country, because it is a rich country and possesses wealth, but mismanagement is the cause of the situation the country is going through.
6. In its strategy for supporting Iraq, the European Union focused on projects related to creating beneficial government policies, i.e. governance, as well as focusing on developing public financial management and reforming the private sector. These projects amount to 30 million euros and were signed in early December of 2017.
7. One of the projects of the European Union in Iraq is to support the development and growth of the economy in the Iraqi provinces. The project was launched in Basra in early March of 2019, and also focused on provinces, such as Maysan and Dhi Qar, and will include other regions such as Anbar and Nineveh. The focus on Basra and Nineveh is due to their importance, as the return of development to these two provinces will lead to making them engines for the rest of the provinces.
8. Among the local projects that the European Union is working on is an important project. It is represented in reviving the agricultural sector in Iraq and providing the necessary requirements for it, as this sector has suffered from neglect that made it lost its value in advancing the economic reality, in addition to the existence of projects related to higher education, such as developing oil institutes in Iraq.
9. The value of cash in Iraq is $50 billion, so providing good management can help to invest those funds in an optimal way in achieving development and motivating the national economy, as well as operating the private sector.
10. The European Union seeks to assist Iraq in establishing political dialogue and creating consensus which it is one of the factors that help establish beneficial public policies for the country.
The absence of political dialogue and the struggle to control resources in the provinces of (Mosul - Anbar), led to mismanagement, which negatively affected economic and security development, which created a negative atmosphere that was harmful to public policies.
11. The existing political model in Iraq, which is based on the peaceful transfer of power; is a strength in the country, but Iraqis are shy about exporting this model.
12. The European Union works, with the Bar Association and the Iraqi Judicial Council, to support human rights, the rule of law and the consolidation of the governance of institutions. In the field of security, the European Union, in coordination with the National Security Advisory, is working on a security sector reform program and the establishment of a security strategy, and the Union has a program on equality between Genders.
13. On the way to standing by Iraq, Belgium made a significant political investment through its field participation - within the international coalition - against the terrorist organization ISIS, as it is the fifth largest contributor to the international coalition formed to fight this terrorist organization.
14. After the end of the war against ISIS, Belgian interests in Iraq began to shift, and the focus became on stability. Najaf, with its cultural, intellectual and creative center, is the starting point for Iraq's renaissance.
Recommendations:
1. Mismanagement negatively affects the economic reality and the provision of services and job opportunities for young people. Therefore, work should be done to combat mismanagement through governance, through which reform is carried out, especially economic reform, as well as public financial management reform, and revitalization of the private sector.
2. Intellectual and academic energies should be mobilized by harnessing these energies to serve the country, and to contain their projects, especially within the framework of the private sector.
3. Civil society organizations must have a supervisory body over the funds that are disbursed and the projects that are set up, and the European Union is keen to inform these bodies of the projects it is setting up in the places of their investment.
4. A good and strong people is a prelude to a good and strong government, and the strength and quality of the people is demonstrated through civil society, which depends primarily on young people and some segments of society, such as women.
5. The partnership agreement between Iraq and the European Union should be strengthened. Local governments should be supported and decentralization should be promoted by providing local governments with energies and competencies that would consolidate good governance and enhance the democratic experience. Investment should also be encouraged and an environment attractive to foreign investors should be provided.
6. The process of attracting foreign investments and companies needs many requirements, including good infrastructure, such as roads, Internet services, electricity, efficient banks, and secure contracts.
