EU announces new era in relations with Iran

The EU and Iran reached an agreement on the expansion of the bilateral ties in various areas, including energy and education, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced this today at a joint press conference with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Tehran.

According to Mogherini, she would like to see the people of Europe and the Iranian people themselves convinced of the positive aspects of the nuclear deal reached in the summer, which will improve their daily lives. "I speak not only on my behalf, I am sure that I speak on behalf of my colleagues in the [European] Commission. Also, acting on my own authority, I want to speak on behalf of 500 million Europeans, who support a new era in our relationship,’’ Trend quotes her as saying.

The head of the European diplomacy noted that the main purpose of the current visit of the EU delegation to Tehran is to restore a constructive dialogue with Iran in many areas and to achieve concrete results

Mogerini recalled that the relations between Iran and the EU have a rich history, and, despite all the difficulties, the people of Europe and the Iranian people have never considered each other strangers.

According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran and the EU representatives discussed the cooperation in the post-sanctions era. The Foreign Minister noted that the cooperation with Iran on the nuclear agreement will bring the EU the economic and political benefits.

The parties, he said, will cooperate in order to eliminate obstacles to the full implementation of the nuclear agreement.

In addition, the agenda of the talks included the cooperation between the EU and Iran in the economic and financial spheres as well as the opening of the EU’s office in Tehran, Zarif said. The visit will focus on the fight against extremism, terrorism, the drug trafficking and migration crisis.

Following the talks, the parties will make four statements, including a statement about the road map of cooperation, peaceful nuclear cooperation, energy cooperation and the cooperation in the scientific and research fields, the minister said.

Iranian oil and gas will occupy an important place in the energy balance in Europe and strengthen its energy security, Federica Mogherini said. She promised that the EU will provide the technical assistance to Iran while building its production capacity and improving the energy efficiency.

The head of the European diplomacy assured that the EU will also support Iran in joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Mogherini added that an agreement was reached on the bilateral visits of the business delegations, the cooperation in the areas of finance, tourism, textile industry and agriculture. "We (the EU) were the major trading partners of Iran and intend to regain the lost ground,’’  she said.

Earlier an open letter of Federica Mogherini was published in the newspaper Corriere della Sera, in which the diplomat stressed that Brussels is set to productive the cooperation with Tehran.

"Iran is playing a central role in the Middle East and Asian regions, and it is important that Tehran has made a contribution to both regional and international stability. The EU is interested in a productive collaboration,’’  she pointed out.

The head of the European diplomacy explained that ‘our (EU’s) positions do not always coincide with the Iranian, but the last year showed that it is possible to overcome the differences, and the Vienna agreement on the nuclear program has created a completely new environment and given an important impetus."

"Our bilateral relations facilitate the dialogue and improve the lives of both the European and Iranian citizens through the joint projects in the fields of energy, trade and solution of the migration problems,’’ Mogherini said.

She added that Iran pays a special attention to the issue of the human rights in the negotiations with the authorities of the EU.

As the European Commission reported, the seven commissioners, on Market and Industry Issues, Elzbieta Bieńkowska, Climate Change and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, Transport Issues, Violeta Bults, Science and Research, Carlos Muedash, Humanitarian Aid, Christ Stylianidis, on Environment, Karmen Vella, and Education, Culture and Sport Issues, Tibor Navrachich, arrived along with Federica Mogherini in Tehran today.

Mogherini has planned meetings with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Majlis Speaker, Ali Larijani, and the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. The European Commissioner will hold the bilateral meetings with the Iranian ministers, during which the practical aspects of the cooperation will be discussed.

"The EU delegation will discuss the areas of the potential collaboration and cooperation. This, in particular, the economic relations, energy, environment, migration, humanitarian aid, transport, civil protection, science and civil nuclear cooperation, as well as culture. The regional issues and human rights will also be the part of the agenda ", TASS leads a message of the European Commission.

Also the prospects for Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization, the bilateral improving of the investment climate and the opening of the Permanent Mission of the European Union in Tehran will be discussed during the talks.