EU to set 300 mn euros for Iraq development aid: ambassador
EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The European Union plans to earmark 300 million euros for the support of development projects in Iraq, the Iraqi ambassador to Brussels was quoted saying.
Speaking to state-run newspaper al-Sabaah, Jawad al-Hindawi said EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, will declare Wednesday “a strategic support for Iraq worth 300 million euros”.
She will make the announcement during her address before the Iraqi reconstruction donors conference hosted by Kuwait, he explained.
Hindawi explained that the package had been approved by the European Commission and the foreign policy council, but is awaiting approval from the European Parliament.
The ambassador said an estimated USD1 billion could be added to that number for the next three years.
Hindawi added that the expected EU package is separate from what is to be provided by each European country individually.
Since 2015, Hindawi said, the European Union provided Iraq with 575 million euros for development, humanitarian, security and political assistance.
At least 70 countries are taking part in the conference through which Iraq hopes to rehabilitate its war-ravaged economy and infrastructure with at least USD100 billion.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State militants last December, ending the militant group’s territorial influence in place since 2014.