EU-Iraq Cooperation Council: Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival
European External Action Service (EEAS)
19.10.2025
Luxembourg
EEAS Press Team
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Good evening.
It is really a pleasure to meet you again here. We have met several times in the past, so thank you for coming to Luxembourg.
This is the fourth EU-Iraq Cooperation Council. Iraq is a valued partner for the European Union. We cooperate closely on energy, on security, on migration.
The EU's assistance mission has been instrumental in supporting the Iraqi authorities in strengthening the rule of law, civilian administration and security sector reform. This is helping also to curb the resurgence of Daesh.
For the first time, the focus of our discussions is shifting away from security towards more public services and economic progress.
In a few weeks, Iraqis will go to polls. You have elections coming up, and you have also requested EU support as independent observers of these elections, which we are also confirming.
These elections represent a significant moment for Iraq. It is vital that they are peaceful, inclusive, and transparent.
Today we will also discuss the protection of human rights, which are fundamental to our relationship. Iraq's election to the United Nations Human Rights Council is not only a symbol of progress, but also an opportunity to build on.
Looking ahead, it is crucial that the government's broader reform agenda delivers tangible results for the Iraqi people and addresses their legitimate demands for better governance and opportunities.
Minister Hussein, thank you once again for coming here and joining us. The stability of Iraq is critical, not only for Iraq, but also the European Union, for our region.
So, the EU remains committed to supporting you, and I look forward to discussing with you these topics in detail.
Thank you for being here, over to you.
Q&A.
Q. Do you think Europe needs the energy, petrol, from the Iraqi Kurdistan region, because just a few weeks ago, starting again, after two years, they export the petrol to Türkiye and then for the world. Do you really need the energy from the Iraqi Kurdistan?
We, of course, as the European Union, want to diversify our energy portfolios with different partners, because we have paid a very high price for putting all the eggs in one basket. That's why we are looking for partnerships that are equal on both sides, on these topics that I mentioned.
Q. You mentioned an observation mission for the Iraqi elections. Could you tell us more? There are lots of security incidents. An official was killed this week in a car bomb. Yesterday there was a shooting incident. Are you worried also about Iran's sway on the country? And can I ask you about tomorrow's FAC? There are reports that there is not going to be much talk of sanctions anymore. Are you worried about maybe the EU giving up its leverage too fast? 11 Palestinians were killed today in Gaza. And if I may ask you what you talked about with Hakan Fidan just now, as you just saw him leave.
First on the election observation. So, the election observation will be on the ground on the 11th of November. And of course, like with all the election observation missions, it is also an issue of their security that we take very seriously. So, this will be the case as well. I think the security of the region is very fragile when it comes to different countries in the region, and we are hoping for a stable region. So that means also democratic developments in different countries, what we are trying to also observe. When it comes to the FAC, then we have several topics on the table. Yes, when it comes to sanctions, we are not able to decide tomorrow on the sanctions package, but work is ongoing, and hopefully we'll get there when the leaders meet in 23rd of November.
Q. What progress has been made in EU-Iraq operation? What you expect so that future. And I ask you again, what rule does the energy sector play in this discussion today?
We commend, really, the reforms that the Iraqi government has undertaken, and as we have developed from only discussions on security, also regarding discussions on energy, digital cooperation, but also broader reform agenda when it comes to the civil reforms that Iraqi Government is doing, the rule of law, which is very important for the European Union. So, we are trying to help as much as possible. And of course, one of the big issues that we are cooperating on is the issue on migration. So, we are also discussing those points.
Q. Are you going to talk about the deportation? Because we saw so many deportations from Germany to Iraq.
We are discussing the cooperation, on migration and what more we can do. We have some worries when it comes to the Daesh camps and all this. So, again, it is very much tied to the security of the region, but also to the European Union.
Thank you very much.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-277722
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