What can Europe do for Iraq? Recommendations for a new U.S.-European collaboration

Event Summary

On April 1st, 2009, experts, government officials and policy makers from Europe, the United States and the Middle East discussed the European Union’s role and potential roles in the Iraq and the surrounding region. The event was organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America and the Brookings Institution’s Center on the U.S. and Europe. The workshop built off the publication recently compiled by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, entitled “What can Europe do for Iraq? Recommendations for a New U.S.-European Collaboration” and included several of its authors.

The workshop’s first panel, chaired by Justin Vaisse of the Brookings Institution, focused on domestic issues in Iraq as well as whether and how Europe should take on a role. Daniel Serwer from the U.S. Institute of Peace spoke of a capacity building role for Europe, which he referred to as “Europe’s biggest export,” while the military and security sides to the mission in Iraq would be taken care of by the American side of the transatlantic alliance. Stephen White, Head of the EU Rule of Law Mission to Iraq, advocated for increased European involvement in policing matters but stressed the urgent need for a strategic plan and the resources needed to support it.  Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution proposed a different idea, that Europe should give less priority to the conflict in Iraq and focus on other parts of the world, particularly Afghanistan and Congo. He envisioned a division of labor for the U.S. and EU, focusing on what they do best.  Finally, Marina Ottaway from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace brought up additional questions concerning the differences that exist between the U.S. and Europe, whether Iraq wants European involvement, and whether the European Union could or should act as a single actor or as individual member-states.

The second panel, chaired by the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America’s Sebastian Gräfe, approached the issue of Iraq from a regional perspective and considered what role the region should play in Iraq and what role Europe should play in the region.  Cem Özdemir, member of the European Parliament and Co-Chairman of the German Political party Alliance 90/the Greens, opened by emphasizing the importance of Iraq’s neighbors in solving the conflict. He indicated particularly the value of involving Turkey, especially with its connection to Iraq over the disputed Kurdistan region. Ken Pollack of Brookings pointed out that the region’s role in Iraq is rather limited at a point when Iraq is becoming independent and resistant to its neighbors’ meddling. He warned against the U.S. and EU using the region as a substitute for their own participation, laying out several ways the U.S. and Europe could help the situation, including preventing neighboring countries from supporting hostile forces in Iraq, engaging Iraq with a degree of normalcy to build its confidence, and investing in the country’s business and trade sectors. Elizabeth Ferris, also from Brookings, highlighted the refugee crisis occurring within and outside Iraqi borders, which she labeled as massive and complicated. She pointed out that this crisis is not just humanitarian but, rather, the future of Iraqi’s displaced will be a large determinant of the country’s future. Finally, Richard Gowan from the European Council on Foreign Relations, amongst other things, initiated a discussion on a security structure for the region and the need for some kind of regional forum.

The event went a long way in furthering this vital discussion regarding an increased role for Europe in Iraq and the region as well as closer transatlantic cooperation.