04/08/2022
Ms Sara Skyttedal, Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Iraq, deplores the recent deterioration of relations among political parties in Iraq, which has resulted in the occupation of the Iraqi Council of Representatives by protesters and in a relatively high number of injured persons.
The Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iraq has been following with growing preoccupation the persistent political deadlock, which has prevented Iraq from having a new Executive more than 10 months after elections successfully took place in the country.
Ms Skyttedal calls upon all those concerned to avoid further confrontation, defuse tensions in the country and prevent further unrest and related violence.
Ms Skyttedal strongly believes that an inclusive dialogue among all political forces and a patiently pursued reconciliation process involving all Iraqi constituencies are essential durinng this particularly sensitive phase, to secure the consolidation of Iraq's sovereignty, stability and the rule of law and proceed with long-expected political, economic and social reforms.
The Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iraq finally reiterates her call on the United Nations, the European Union and its Member States to continue supporting the reconciliation and democratisation process in Iraq.
Background
On 27 July 2022, hundreds of Iraqi political activists stormed the Iraqi Council of Representatives and occupied it for a few days.
This demonstration, which has resulted in several injured protesters and security forces, comes after more than 10 months of political deadlock, which has so far prevented Iraqi to have a full-functioning government.
The European External Action Service as well as the international community expressed concern about a possible escalation of the situation and recalled that the right to peaceful protest is essential to democracy if law and state institutions are respected.
Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP