Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the International Compact with Iraq

Press release 268/2006
1 August, 2006

The European Union warmly welcomes the launching of the International Compact with Iraq by the Government of Iraq and the United Nations in New York on 27 July 2006, and underlines its readiness to participate actively and constructively in the preparatory and follow-up processes.

The European Union supports finalising the Compact setting out Iraq's goals and capabilities in the key areas of political, security and economic reform. It underlines the importance of Iraqi ownership of the process developing the Compact and the broad involvement by the international community, as well as active participation of neighbours and partners in the region.

The European Union looks forward to the comprehensive national vision for Iraq, and to engaging through the preparatory group in developing a global package of commitments and benchmarking in support of this vision and of Iraqi priorities and goals in the three key areas of reform. In this connection the European Union would like to underline the importance of a longer term perspective and the need for appropriate monitoring of the implementation of the Compact.