PM confirms the government's work to willingly return Iraqis stranded in Europe

  Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi confirmed the government's work to willingly return Iraqis stranded in Europe, while Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas renewed the European Union's support for Iraq.  

The media office of the Prime Minister said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "Al-Kadhimi received, today, Monday, Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas and his accompanying delegation," noting that "the bilateral relations between Iraq and the European Union were discussed at various levels and the issue of citizens Iraqis stranded in a number of European Union cities. 

Al-Kadhimi stressed "the importance of cooperation relations with the European Union, and the need to develop them in various political, security, economic, cultural, and other fields," noting "the importance of benefiting from the development experiences of European countries, especially in the post-war stages, as well as supporting investment and creating the environment proper to it." 

 He stressed "the importance of taking all joint measures to preserve the security and safety of Iraqi citizens in various parts of the European Union, and to work to avoid any Iraqi becoming a victim of smuggling networks," noting that "the government is working to return all stranded Iraqis willingly, and in a manner that preserves their dignity.  

For his part, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, renewed "the European Union's support for Iraq as it is on its way to stability," noting that "the European Union will remain a friend of Iraq in the long strategic term. 

He expressed the European Union's thanks and happiness for the early measures taken by Iraq in combating smuggling operations in which innocent citizens are victims," pointing out  the importance of joint cooperation in order to return them."