Press Release: Iraq: Commission proposes negotiating mandate for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The European Commission on 12 December 2005 proposed that the EU should start negotiations for a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) with Iraq in 2006. Once the Council would approve the mandate, the Commission would negotiate the Agreement with the first constitutionally elected Iraqi government. Also, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, on behalf of the Commission, and Ambassador Mohammed Jawad Al-Doreky, on behalf of the Iraqi government, signed an agreement ('Accord de Siege') to open a European Commission Delegation office in Baghdad.