The European Union and the Republic of Iraq have today
signed in Baghdad,
Iraq, a Memorandum of Understanding on a "Strategic
Energy Partnership"
which provides a political framework for reinforcing energy
relations
between Iraq and the EU. It also outlines priorities for
future cooperation,
taking into account the possible role of Iraq as a natural
gas supplier for the
Southern Corridor and that Iraq has the world's third
largest proven
petroleum reserves; Iraq could become an energy bridge
between the Middle
East, the Mediterranean and the EU.
The Memorandum outlines the following areas of cooperation:
development of an
energy policy for the Iraqi people, energy security of
supplies between Iraq and the
EU, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
The Memorandum was signed by the Commissioner for Energy
Andris Piebalgs and
by the Iraqi Minister for Oil Hussain Al-Shahristani.
Baroness Ashton, The EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice President of the
Commission, will subsequently co-sign the MoU together with
the Council
Presidency.
Commissioner Piebalgs said: "Iraq represents a vital
link for EU's security of supply.
It is already an important supplier of oil and can become a
key gas supplier for the
Southern corridor; the EU can help Iraq to develop
electricity system and tap its vast
renewable resources. The MoU lays the foundation of a
strengthened EU-Iraq
bilateral relation".
In recent years the EU has significantly strengthened its
relations with partners in the
Middle East and North Africa and this policy is one element
in diversifying EU energy
imports. Commissioner Piebalgs also mentioned that last year
in Prague, President
Talabani was already supporting the Southern Corridor gas
pipelines. Full energy
partnership means cooperation on elements that will make
Iraq stronger by
introducing energy demand management, energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
After signing the Memorandum, the Commissioner met with
Prime Minister Al-Maliki
for a discussion on bilateral relations.
During the
meeting, Commissioner Piebalgs underlined the EU commitment to establish a
long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with
Iraq
. Commissioner Piebalgs also noted that
the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between
Iraq
and the EU which is being finalised
contains specific energy provisions. He mentioned that, once implemented, it
would lay down a solid foundation for further developingrelations between the
EU and
Iraq
across awide range of areas.
Areas of cooperation covered by the Memorandum:
1)Contribution
to the development of a comprehensive and integrated energy
policy for Iraq;
2)Energy
action programme for EU-Iraq cooperation covering the period
2010-2015;
3) Updated
Iraqi gas development programme;
4) Assessing
the Iraqi hydrocarbon transit and supply network. Enhancing safety
and reliability of the pipelines;
5) Identifying
sources and supply routes for gas from
Iraq
to the European Union;
6) Ensuring
sustainability of energy policy in
Iraq
, including the necessary
legislative, regulatory and institutional framework;
7) Prepare
a plan of action for the development of renewable energy in
Iraq
.