Wednesday

27th Sep 2023

MEP provides evidence against Iraq

A European member of Parliament may have provided UN weapons inspectors with fresh evidence that Iraq has materials which could be used to create weapons of mass destruction.

Member of an official Parliamentary delegation visiting the UN in New York and possibly later going to Iraq, Baroness Nicholson - a Liberal democrat MEP - has reportedly delivered evidence to UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix which has come from Iraq in the past few days and is alleged to be new.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Baroness Nicholson told reporters, "The evidence I gave to Dr Blix identified at least two places where weapons of mass destruction materials are stored, as my informant told me, places that have not been identified before, and other associated material."

The UN are not yet ready to comment on the utility or importance of the information although it is expected that weapons inspectors will now search the sites.

Ms. Nicholson, the vice-chair of the Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, is due to travel to Iraq along with the rest of the official delegation from the European Parliament if the go-ahead is given over the next few days. According to one of Saddam Hussein advisors, she can receive a warm welcome in Baghdad.

"We welcome anybody who claims that he has evidence that we are hiding something or attempting something proscribed," said Amer Saadi.

Head of the visiting delegation, Elmar Brok, German Christian Democrat MEP has stated that they will report their findings to the European Parliament on their return and weighed in with his own contribution to the debate saying "Iraqi authorities would have to bear the responsibility for war if they fail to fully co-operate with UN arms inspectors."

EU’s €500m gender violence plan falls short, say auditors

The 'Spotlight Initiative' was launched in 2017 with a budget of €500 million to end all forms of violence or harmful practices against women and girls in partner countries, but so far it has had "little impact", say EU auditors.

Latest News

  1. How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?
  2. Resurgent Fico hopes for Slovak comeback at Saturday's election
  3. EU and US urge Azerbijan to allow aid access to Armenians
  4. EU warns of Russian 'mass manipulation' as elections loom
  5. Blocking minority of EU states risks derailing asylum overhaul
  6. Will Poles vote for the end of democracy?
  7. IEA says: Go green now, save €11 trillion later
  8. The failure of the Just Energy Transition Fund in South Africa

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us