Written question asked by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 October 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 October 2007. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 October 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: International Assistance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the UK has put forward for EU financial, technical and political support for Iraq, including to the Iraqi Neighbours process; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: With France and Sweden, we have jointly proposed that the EU increases high level, political contact with Iraq and provides political support to the Iraq neighbours process. We have also suggested that the EU works closely with the UN in support of UN Security Resolution 1770; identifies targeted development and reconstruction assistance, encouraging good donor co-ordination; responds to the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the region and promotes respect for human rights. These suggestions were discussed at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 15/16 October 2007. The conclusions of that discussion can be found on the EU's website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/96535.pdf.

Secondary information