On 28 March 2006 the EC approved its Assistance Programme (AP) for 2006 with a total additional budget of €200 million. This AP is in line with the Iraqi National Development Strategy (NDS) 2005-2007 and aims to contribute to the development of  a secure, stable, and democratic Iraq, with an open, stable, sustainable and diversified economy, politically integrated in its region and international system.       

The Commission Communication - COM (2004) 417/1, which was endorsed by the European Council, (17-18 June 2005 ,Council Conclusions 10255/05) sets out an action framework allowing for progressively closer EU-Iraq relations at a pace determined by the progress in the political transition and the security conditions in the country.

The framework for engagement, reflecting the timelines endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 1546, was structured around three main phases:

Phase I – Immediate Actions: for the period between 30 June 2004 until the elections of the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) in January 2005. Humanitarian assistance, support to reconstruction and elections, informal political dialogue, engagement on the part of Iraq’s neighbours and the opening of an Iraq Office in Amman, were the main targets set forth by the Communication. This phase also included support to the creation of a multilateral framework for support to reconstruction under the auspices of the UN and the International Financial Institutions.

Phase II – Post elections: This phase, mainly centred on the constitutional process, was meant to see the intensification of the rehabilitation and reconstruction support, the commencement of a formal political dialogue and the beginning of joint working groups in sectors of mutual interest.

Phase III – Medium terms: following the appointment of a constitutionally elected government, the EU would move onto negotiating a bilateral agreement, providing continued assistance for economic diversification and poverty reduction, encouraging the creation of a regional framework, gradually focusing assistance in the field of, democratisation and human rights, rule of law and, finally, the opening of a fully fledged European Commission Delegation.

The European Commission so far has delivered on all key actions foreseen in phase I and is well advanced in implementing the actions foreseen for phase II. The above mentioned agreement seeks to complement the activities being undertaken as part of Phase II and also to provide some of the necessary expertise for Phase III.

Objectives of IMG Mission in Iraq

In keeping with the overall objectives of the Iraq Assistance Programme, and also the particular desire to increase bilateral assistance in areas of strategic importance for bilateral relations between the EU and Iraq;