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Strengthening Iraq Through EU Cooperation

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Strengthening Iraq Through EU Cooperation Strengthening Iraq through EU cooperation International Cooperation and Development Legal notice: Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. Europe direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number*: 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you) More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (www.europa.eu) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015 Catalogue number: MN-01-15-864-EN-N ISBN: 978-92-79-52838-5 DOI: 10.2841/443866 © European Union, 2015 / Reproduction is authorised provided that the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium, 2015 Pictures: ©Massoud Shekhmus (cover); ©European Commission (P.04, 08, 20b); EU/ECHO (P.06, 24); ©Cpl Joel A Chaverri, US Marine Corps /CC BY (P.07); ©EU/ECHO/Jared Kohler (P.09); © UNICEF (P.10, 11b, 15); ©Kurdistani Nwê (P.10b, 12); ©Samantha Robinson/AptART (P.11, 46); ©Sicidominus (P.14, 15b); © Blood Transfusion Center/Erbil (P.17); ©EU/ECHO/ Caroline Gluck (P.18, 23, 23b, 27, 40); ©James Selesnick /CC BY (P.18b); ©GFA (P.20) ©UNDP (P.21, 21b); ©Delman Kareem (P.24b, 30b, 40b, 43); ©PAX (P.26); ©BBC Media Action (P.28); ©UNAMA (P.30); ©EU/ ECHO/Jamal Penjweny (P.33); ©Intel Free Press /CC BY (P.34); ©UNIDO (P.37); ©Dr. Ronald K. Chesser, Center for Environmental Radiation Studies, Texas Tech University /CC BY (P.38); ©IAEA IDP (P.38b); ©Khaled Sulaiman (P 44a); ©James Gordon, Los Angeles, CA /CC BY (P.44b); © Mohammad Abdallah (P.44c); ©Laith Al-Obeidi (P.45); © Aha-So/Shutterstock.com (P.12, 16, 18, 22, 25, 35, 41, 44, 45). 3 Contents Foreword 5 Introduction: Building a stable nation 6 Overview: From reconstruction to development 8 Education: Regaining lost ground 10 Water: Watertight solutions 14 Health: Curing the ills of Iraq’s health system 17 Good governance: Towards accountable government 20 Migration: Moving times for refugees 23 Human rights: Dignity for all 26 Civil society: Towards a new social contract 30 Private sector: Oiling the wheels of private enterprise 34 Nuclear safety: Decontaminating the past 38 Humanitarian assistance: Ready for humanitarian action 40 Infographics 44 Further reading 46 4 Neven Mimica 5 Foreword Strengthening Iraq through EU cooperation Over the last several years, Iraq has faced an This publication, produced by the Directorate- uneasy transition from conflict to some degree of General for International Cooperation and peace, before it plunged back into an acute crisis Development, outlines the current state of play of in 2014 with the rise of ISIL/Da’esh in Syria and EU development cooperation with Iraq. It provides Iraq. an overview on the projects covering key areas Iraq is a pivotal country in the Middle East. What like education, water and health, good governance happens there affects the entire region, and that and human rights, migration, civil society, nuclear is why a prosperous, sustainable Iraq with a safety and private sector development. functioning democracy is not In the ‘Agenda for Change’ only vital to the welfare of The future lies in demonstrating the European Union has Iraqis but can also prove to be to Iraqis of all backgrounds, reiterated the importance of a stabilising influence for the and to the world, that in this ensuring a smooth transition entire region. from crisis response and country it is possible to live humanitarian aid to long-term The European Union and together in tolerance, respect its Member States are development cooperation. The mobilising all the instruments and mutual benefit. humanitarian-development at their disposal – diplomatic, humanitarian and nexus is complex and requires development – to help the Iraqi people build a strong coordination between humanitarian and prosperous future. Through the development development actors as well as mutual awareness cooperation the European Union is supporting of the different instruments and approaches. Iraq and its people to tackle the root causes of For this purpose, this publication includes also a violence and bolster long term structural stability. chapter on the humanitarian assistance provided The European Union is helping the Government of to Iraq. Iraq and Iraqi national institutions in their efforts to deliver on their duty of care vis-à-vis all Iraqi citizens, included displaced people and refugees. The best possible way to confront and defeat the ugly face of sectarianism is for Iraq to build and Neven Mimica strengthen a pluralistic society. The future lies in European Commissioner for International Cooperation demonstrating to Iraqis of all backgrounds, and to and Development the world, that in this country it is possible to live together in tolerance, respect and mutual benefit. 6 Introduction Building a stable nation Since 2003, Iraq has scored notable successes in numerous areas of governance, institution building and economic recovery, including three cycles of democratic elections. During this long journey, the European Union has been a reliable partner for Iraq, both in terms of humanitarian assistance, where it is often the first donor to respond to unfolding crises, and when it comes to supporting long-term sustainable development. The EU is concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the Iraqi people as well as the integrity and prosperity of Iraq. However, all these gains are under severe threat from the renewed conflict and instability that have rocked the country. The ongoing battle against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) has propelled Iraq once again to the international headlines. The resurgent internal conflict within Iraq is being exacerbated by spillover from the civil war in neighbouring Syria. While opinions differ markedly over the causes of the country’s troubles, one thing all parties agree on is the urgent need to restore stability and rebuild infrastructure and institutions in Iraq. Striking at the roots The EU has formulated a comprehensive joint plan which tackles the underlying political dynamics of the conflict, economic development and reconciliation between different ethnic groups. In concrete terms, the EU has allocated EUR 1 billion to implement the strategy in Iraq and Syria in 2015-2016 alone. This fits into the mutually agreed strategic objectives of EU-Iraqi cooperation: to promote stability, further develop governance and accountability, as well as to ensure inclusive development. It will help enhance the country’s security, improve the safety and wellbeing of its citizens, promote recovery Children of Peace Iraq and development, and accelerate Iraq’s re-integration into the international community, its return to the family of nations. As a sign of the deepening mutual ties, the two sides sealed their first framework accord in 2012, known as the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. 7 7 Fallujah 2004 Confidence in the future This package will Despite the renewed bout of instability that has struck Iraq, the European strengthen our Union unveiled a new tranche of development support to Iraq with EUR 78 million for the period 2014-2017. actions to help This brochure is a testament to, and a reflection of, that confidence. It restore peace highlights the complex, deep and broad-based development relationship and security in a Iraq enjoys with Europe. It also illustrates the many successes Iraq is region that is so registering beyond the grim headlines the rest of the world sees, and shows how determined and dedicated Iraqis are planting the seeds for a better close to us and future in the harsh soil of the present. that has been devastated by terrorism and violence for too long 8 Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, meets Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs, in December 2014 Overview From reconstruction to development During the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the EU Shifting focus limited its relations with Iraq to humanitarian issues, In 2008, the EU began to move towards a direct becoming the largest donor after the United Nations bilateral relationship with Iraq, driven primarily by the in 1992. Iraqi authorities. Aiming to foster the government’s In the aftermath of the 2003 war in Iraq and the capacity to set and pursue its own goals, the European downfall of the Hussein regime, international efforts Commission, Italy and Sweden helped Iraq to develop focused on rebuilding the devastated nation. its first-ever Country Strategy Paper, for 2011 to 2013. At that time, the EU channelled its assistance In 2011, Iraq became eligible to receive loans from through a joint fund, along with 24 other donors. the European Investment Bank, thereby boosting its The European Union contributed some two-fifths of development potential. The 2012 EU-Iraq Partnership the USD 1.9 billion that made up the International and Cooperation Agreement established a Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), comprehensive framework for this development established by the UN and the World Bank. Based partnership. This agreement ‘is a fitting testament on a thorough needs assessment, IRFFI focused on to the EU’s determination to build a long-term 14 main priorities and was designed to complement partnership’, said Catherine Ashton, who was the High the Iraqi government’s National Development Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Strategy. at the time. As a reflection of the EU’s commitment to building A brighter tomorrow democracy, good governance and accountability in Iraq, the European Commission provided both The Iraqi National Development Plan (2013-2017) financial and technical assistance to Iraq’s first provides a blueprint for EU-Iraqi cooperation, as well democratic elections in 2005.
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