EU-IRAN relations enter new era

  
 

 

  
 

 

  
 

        

  
         Brussels, June 18, IRNA -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday took a landmark decision of giving the European Commission the mandate to commence talks with the Islamic Republic for a trade and cooperation agreement.
       "Today's decision really paves the way for a new relationship between Iran and the EU," Cristina Gallach, spokesperson for EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, commented in an interview with IRNA.
       It is for the first time that the relationship between the EU and Iran has been put on a contractual basis and will contribute to improvements in bilateral trade, economic and political ties.
       The timing of the EU decision to improve ties with Iran is of great significance. It comes at a time when the US is trying to isolate the Islamic Republic by branding the Muslim nation part of an "axis of evil".
       Brussels also ignored the pressures and lobbying of both the US and Israel not to give the mandate for the agreement with Iran.
       Brushing aside the pressures, EU Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten told a press conference in Luxembourg Monday evening that the 15 EU states are autonomous states and "we are not  negotiating with the US and Israel."
       "Everybody who supports the reform process in Iran will welcome the steps we have taken," Patten said.
       Monday's historic decision also represents a triumph for Iranian diplomacy.
       The trade and cooperation agreement, which has been under discussion for several years, is seen by the EU as a keystone of Europe's strategy for expanding relations and cooperation with Iran.
       An EU-Iran dialogue was launched in 1995. It was broadened in scope following the election of President Mohammad Khatami to become what is now called the Comprehensive Dialogue.
       Last November, the European Commission approved a proposal for negotiating directives for a trade and cooperation agreement with the Islamic Republic.
       In its conclusions issued Monday in Luxembourg, the General Affairs Council (GAC) restated "its continued support for the process of reforms in Iran and, in this context, reaffirms its willingness to strengthen relations between the EU and Iran."
       "To this end, the council has reached a political agreement on negotiating directives for a trade and cooperation agreement with Iran, which is linked to the separate instruments on political dialogue and counter-terrorism," said the council's conclusions.
       "It (the council) asks the commission to take the appropriate steps to launch the negotiations as soon as the directives have been formally adopted."
       The EU foreign ministers, in their conclusions, reiterated their expectations that the negotiations and conclusion of the agreement will help develop exchanges and cooperation with Iran, and continue the process of political and economic reform.
       "The council expects that the deepening of economic and commercial relations between the EU and Iran should be matched by similar progress in all other aspects of the EU's relations with this country."
       Last May, the EU foreign ministers had to postpone a decision on the mandate due to differences between the 15 member states over the form of the agreement.
       While most member states favored a simple and quick trade accord known as the "community agreement," a few states like Germany and Holland were insisting to link the agreement with issues like human rights and terrorism in the "mixed agreement."
       In the end, a British proposal to link the cooperation agreement with Iran, with separate instruments on political dialogue and counter-terrorism, won the day.
       It cannot be overemphasized that strong lobbying for the simple trade agreement by countries like Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain contributed to the compromise formula.
       Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel made a very impressive and strong case in support of the agreement with Iran, said EU sources.
       "He spoke very, very well," non-Belgian EU sources told IRNA.
       Only last week, Michel paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic.
       Moreover, the role of Spain, which holds the current EU rotating presidency, was also crucial for winning support for the agreement that only needs a ratification by the European Parliament.
       The conclusions, said the vouncil, wish to see an intensified political dialogue between the EU and Iran leading to better understanding between the two parties as well as to significant positive developments in the areas of concern to the EU as identified by the council in 1998.
       EU Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten said the commission was pleased that the council had reached the agreement.
       "It is an important signal for Iran and to the reformers in Iran," Patten told a press conference at the end of the one-day meeting of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg.
       Now the European Commission is going to present the formal directive soon at the table of the EU ministers to start negotiations with Iran.

Home