I have just attended the January meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels and have been reflecting on how the collective weight of EU members can be harnessed to promote the UK’s national prosperity and security.
For example, at the December meeting, the Foreign Secretary discussed with all our European Union partners how to encourage Iran to come to the table and negotiate meaningfully on its nuclear programme – which is in breach of six UN Security Council Resolutions – and about which we share the International Atomic Energy Agency’s serious concerns.
UK policy on Iran is a twin track approach of pressure and engagement. We’ve consistently made it clear that until Iran engages constructively on the nuclear issue, it will find itself under increasing pressure from the international community. We are committed to a long-term diplomatic solution. That’s why in December we reaffirmed the twin-track approach in the EU and agreed to work together on further sanctions, including in the areas of finance and energy. It’s exactly this type of unity and solidarity that the UK Government wanted to achieve, using the combined effort of the EU and working closely with member states to achieve our objectives.
I’m pleased to say that as a result of agreements made at the most recent meeting, the EU has agreed an unprecedented package of sanctions against Iran including a phased oil embargo and action against the Central Bank of Iran.
Of course, EU action doesn’t replace the work of national diplomatic services. We have made clear that it never will. But by working collaboratively we can also intensify pressure on other regimes, such as the one in Syria, where we all want to see an end to the violence and to stop the repression of the Syrian people. The UK wants a peaceful transition to a more representative form of government and we’re committed to ensuring the EU continues to increase pressure on the Syrian regime to this end. That’s why we’ve been at the forefront of imposing 10 rounds of EU sanctions, subjecting a total of 86 individuals and 30 entities to asset freezes and travel bans which are targeted against those supporting, or benefiting from the regime and those associated with them. And that’s why at the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting we’ve proposed further restrictive measures to put pressure on those responsible for the repression, depriving the Syrian regime of the financial revenues and resources it is using to maintain its crackdown.
With all EU Member States acting together, we can make our sanctions policy more effective to encourage the regimes in Iran and Syria to move towards a more democratic society, respecting human rights and basic freedoms.