The European Union and the Kurds in Iraq

Abstract

This chapter presented an extensive analysis of the EU’s actorness in the Kurdish issue in Iraq. The chapter started by examining whether and how the EU has, as an actor, identified, formulated and represented common interests in relation to the Kurdish issue in Iraq. Furthermore, the chapter included an assessment of the EU’s acceptance by Iraq, one of the two primary stakeholders. Finally, the analysis includes an assessment of the EU’s performance and assessed the broader impact of the EU’s actorness in the Kurdish issue in Iraq. A set of rationales lie at the basis of the EU’s interactions with KRI. In terms of EU’s interests, the Kurds are perceived as a vital partner in achieving EU policy objectives in Iraq, as well as in facing regional challenges, such as migration and terrorism. As regards opposition to its role in the Kurdish issue, it can be concluded that the EU has not faced serious opposition, the primary reason for which is the constitutional recognition of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Finally, with respect to the EU’s performance and effectiveness, a discrepancy can be observed between the EU’s ambitious agenda and its normative rhetoric, on the one hand, and its calculative behaviour on the other.