EU and Iran - towards a constructive dialogue - Main contents

EU High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella, in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries travelled to Iran on 16 April to reinvigorate bilateral relations, following the Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran has a vital role to play in shaping a more cooperative regional and international architecture. A pivotal player in the Middle East and Asia, it is crucial that Iran choses to engage constructively on all regional and international files. And we, the European Union, have the strongest interest in engaging for this outcome. For too long, relations with Iran have largely been defined by concerns over its nuclear programme. This was to Iran’s detriment and ours’. Our visit to Tehran on 16 April - together with six of our Commission colleagues in charge of areas ranging from Environment, Energy, Transport and Industry to Education, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management - shows that we are turning a corner. And EU member states are equally committed to open a new page in relations with Iran.

There are important issues where our respective positions differ, but the events of the last year tell us there is room for optimism. The sceptics were proved wrong. Not only have we reached a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, ending over a decade of mistrust and tough negotiations. Six months later, the International Atomic Agency certified that Iran met all its commitments. Since then we have mapped the ground for taking it all forward. Now we are finally on our way.

Our work on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is obviously not over yet: Iran has to implement the deal in its entirety and over its full duration, and abide by its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The same goes for the international community on its side of the agreement. We are confident that this will be case, and will work hard on it through the Joint Commission to monitor the implementation of the JCPOA.

In the meantime, the agreement we signed in Vienna has already created a new atmosphere, to everyone’s benefit. The birth of the International Syria Support Group - and the Group’s achievements on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access to besieged areas - would have been unthinkable with no Iran deal. The road towards peace in Syria is still long: Iran will have to use its influence to facilitate a breakthrough in negotiations in Geneva, and it can decide to engage constructively to build a cooperative approach with other regional players. We have now concretely seen what diplomacy can do, and why cooperative engagement is so indispensable.

Our bilateral ties can play a central role in making our engagement more effective and more fruitful. A stronger relationship can benefit both our European Union and the citizens of Iran. For instance, if we can rebuild our energy relationship, Iranian oil and gas will reinforce our energy security. On the other hand, the EU has the necessary expertise and technology to help Iran improve its production capacity and the energy efficiency of its homes and industry. Greater cooperation on migration flows can improve the lives of millions of Afghans residing in Iran, and prevent a huge number of deaths on the dangerous route towards Europe. Economic cooperation could help Iran accede to the WTO and improve the Iranian business and investment environment to everyone’s benefit. Technical assistance in aviation safety could enable many of Iranian aircrafts to fly again to Europe. Exchanges between students and researchers and cooperation between universities would be a great investment in two of our best assets: culture and human capital. As Iran delivers on its nuclear commitments we also need to make sure that the sanctions lifting has a tangible impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. Beyond geopolitics, this is what our relationship can be about. The ties between our peoples and our civilisations date back centuries. But in this day and age, an alliance of our civilisations is more relevant than ever.

We need a dialogue that is comprehensive in scope, cooperative where there is mutual interest, critical in the areas where we disagree, but constructive in tone and practice. True partners are those who are not afraid to address their disagreements, with no taboos. The issue of human rights has been part of all our recent conversations with the Iranian leadership. It took us decades to get rid of capital punishment in Europe - and the job is not completely over yet. We would like to accompany our Iranian partners along a similar journey.

Last summer, just a few days after the agreement was reached, we laid the first brick of a new relationship. It is now time to explore its full potential. Making it work will take time, courage and determination on both sides. But as the great Shirazi poet Saadi said: have patience, all things are difficult before they become easy. Our partnership can turn the tide on these difficult times.

*

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-04-17/newspaper-opinions/EU-and-Iran-towards-a-constructive-dialogue-6736156417

*