| 2008: European commissioner discusses energy partnership with Iraq |
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February 18, 2008 The European Commission energy advisor has held several meetings with Iraqi officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, oil and planning to discuss the possibility of establishing a EU-Iraq strategic partnership. "Arriving in Baghdad on Saturday, the commission's energy advisor Faouzi Bensarsa is currently holding meetings with Iraqi officials to examine the possibility of setting up a strategic partnership in energy between Iraq and the European Union," read a statement released by the commission's delegation in Baghdad and received by Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI). The energy advisor met with representatives from the Iraqi ministries of foreign affairs, electricity, oil and planning as part of cooperation between the EU and Iraq. "Energy is a fundamental element for the development of the Iraqi economy. The EU's energy market, the largest unified market in the world, provides opportunities for the development of Iraqi power supplies, particularly in the natural gas sector," according to the statement. "Iraq has a huge potential for renewable energy, particularly the solar energy, and it will certainly benefit from the EU's technology in this aspect," the statement pointed out. The partnership has been set as part of the EU's external energy policy for the period 2007-2009, the statement indicated, highlighting significant progress achieved on the Arab Gas Pipeline and envisioning a full partnership with Iraq in the near future. |