32 EU support for UN activities in Iraq
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| Council Joint Action on support for UN activities in Iraq in the frame of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
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| Legal base | Article 14 EU; unanimity
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| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 21 December 2004
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | Mid-January or at the 31 January GAERC
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
32.1 The EU supports the process of economic, social and political
reconstruction of Iraq in the framework of the implementation
of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1546 of 8 June 2004.
UNSCR 1546 recognises that providing security for staff members
of the UN system working in Iraq would require significant resources
and called upon Member States and relevant organisations to help
with the funding.
32.2 The UN Protection Force in Iraq is divided into
three "rings":
- the "inner ring":
security guards to patrol within the perimeter of UN premises
as well as personal security details around key UN figures;
- the "middle ring": a "distinct
entity" within the Multinational Force (MNF) with a "dedicated
mission" to protect the UN and to provide protection around
UN facilities as well as convoy protection; and
- the "outer ring": the broader Multi-National
Force protection in Iraq.
32.3 The September General Affairs and External Relations
Council agreed that the EU should present a package of proposals
for EU assistance to Iraq for the 5 November European Council.
The package included Member States' contributions to the financing
of the "middle ring" of the UN Protection Force in Iraq,
following a request made by the UN Secretary-General. The package
also included the commitment that the European Commission would
continue to discuss with the UN a possible community contribution
to the "inner ring".
The draft Joint Action
32.4 The draft Joint Action sets out that EU Member
States will contribute €10 million to fund the "middle
ring"; 13 have offered to contribute (not including the UK).
In addition, €4 million of the €62.6 million in the
2005 Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) budget will be
allocated to fund residential accommodation for members of the
"inner ring", to which, separately, Italy will also
contribute €1.2 million.
The Government's view
32.5 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 21 December
2004, the Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane) describes the
EU package presented to Iraq's Prime Minister Allawi as "drawing
largely on UK thinking" and assesses it thus:
"The provision of funding for the inner
and middle ring provides an important opportunity for the EU to
demonstrate its commitment to the political transition, leading
to a constitutionally elected Iraqi government by December 2005.
The UK considers that this financial support demonstrates
the EU's continued commitment to support the UN in Iraq. It is
also an important element of the EU package of assistance, that
was presented to Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi at the 5 November
European Council."
32.6 On the funding from the Common Foreign and Security
Policy (CFSP) budget, the Minister says:
"The UK' s share of the contribution
from the CFSP budget for the "inner ring" will be around
£525,000. The Government considers that the contribution
from the CFSP budget, although not large in monetary terms, is
proportionate with the size of the CFSP budget and the other commitments
for 2005 from this budget (including the prospective EU civilian
crisis management mission to Iraq)."
32.7 He adds that, as well as the bilateral contributions
by Member States to funding security personnel, "the EU
has decided to provide a financial contribution to facilities
and infrastructure elements required for UN
personnel in the frame of
the integrated UN security structure for the UN
Assistance Mission in Iraq
(UNAMI)".
Conclusion
32.8 On 1 December, we cleared a draft Joint Action
to establish a Fact Finding Mission to Iraq which would continue
discussions with the Iraqi authorities on a possible civilian
mission, begin planning for it to start after the Iraqi elections
and, in particular, assess the security needs of such a mission.[85]
The Fact Finding Mission is still in Iraq, so whether there will
be a civilian mission is still not known. But with the elections
due at the end of the month, there may be a strong impetus to
show further EU support, with parliamentary scrutiny requirements
coming under corresponding pressure. We accordingly recall the
arrangements agreed between the Minister and us regarding scrutiny
of these fast-moving European Security and Defence Policy matters;
depending on the precise timing, we hope that he will submit a
further Explanatory Memorandum, even if no text is available at
the time.
32.9 In the meantime, there are no questions that
need to be put to the Minister on this draft Joint Action, and
we now clear the document. Given the level of political interest
in Iraq, we considered it appropriate to draw this latest development
to the attention of the House.
85 (26147) -; see HC 38-i (2004-05), para 22 (1 December
2004) Back
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