The Council of the European Union announced on Monday that it had decided to extend the mandate of its Advisory Mission in Iraq until 2020 and to allocate over 64 million euros ($74 million) to the mission's budget.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th October, 2018) The Council of the European Union announced on Monday that it had decided to extend the mandate of its Advisory Mission in Iraq until 2020 and to allocate over 64 million Euros ($74 million) to the mission's budget.
"On 15 October 2018, the Council extended the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission EUAM Iraq until 17 April 2020 and agreed on a budget of 64.8 million for the period from 18 October 2018 to 17 April 2020," the Council said in a press release.
According to the press release, the mission's mandate was updated, taking into consideration the experience gained during the EUAM work in Iraq.
The EU Council's mission in Iraq was launched in 2017 to provide Baghdad with advice and assistance in implementing the civilian aspects of the country's National Security Program, which is aimed at establishing state institutions capable of ensuring peace and security in Iraq. The mission was set up at Baghdad's request for assistance and, in 2017, its budget amounted to 14 million euros ($16 million).
The security situation in Iraq has been unstable for years because of the tense relations between Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdistan region, which has been attempting to secede from the country, and the ongoing insurgency of numerous armed groups.
