critical dialogue

7/27/2019 Critical Dialogue

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Andrew WhiteEU and the Middle East

6th March 2012


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Background

Historical Overview

Iran: Towards moderation The EU: A new foreign policy actor

Security

Economics Normative Concerns Conclusion Bibliography


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1957Treaty of Rome

1979 Islamic Revolution

1980 Start of Iran-Iraq War

1986/87 Single European Act

1988 End of Iran-Iraq War

1989Fatwa against Rushdie (Feb)

1989 Ayatollah Khomeini Dies (Jun)

1989

Rafsanjani becomes President 1991 Maastricht Treaty

1992 Critical Dialogue announced

1997 Mykonos Ruling (Apr)

1997 Khatami becomes President

Full name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Population: 75.1 million (UN, 2010)

Capital: Tehran

Area: 1.65 million sq kmMajor language: Persian

Major religion: Islam

Life expectancy: 72(men), 75(women)

Monetary unit: 10 rials = 1 toman

Main exports: Petroleum, carpets,

agricultural products

GNI per capita: US $4,520

Source: BBC


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Key Events: End of the Iran-Iraq War Death of Ayatollah Khomeini and the succession of Ali

Khamenei to the seat of Supreme Leader. Election of Rafsanjani to the Presidency.

Key Consequences: Move away from policy of exporting the IslamicRevolution

Liberalisation of markets Green light for the EU to seek rapprochement with Iran


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Key Events: The Single European Act (1986)

The Maastricht Treaty (1992)

Key Consequences: Creation of the Common Foreign and Security

Policy

Enshrined founding principles and normativemanifesto


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Physical Security Assassinations on European soil

Alleged support of IRA Arms proliferation

Energy Security

Policy towards MEPP/ anti-Israeli Stance Support of Hamas, Hezbollah

Export of the Islamic Revolution


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Overview: $18.8 billion net trade in 1991 $25.2 billion net trade in 2006 (EUCE, 2008)

Britain: Royal Dutch Shell invested $2.5 billion on Iran-Turkmenistan-Turkey-West Europe Pipeline

France: Total (together with Gazprom and Petronas ) invested

heavily in South Pars gas field in Iran

Germany: Hermes-Credit-Guarantees DM150 million

EU: $10 billion in loan refinancing to Iran between 1992 and 1997

Source: Struwe (1998)


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To develop and consolidate democracy andthe rule of law, and respect for human rightsand fundamental freedoms. Art. J.1(2) TEU Oppression of the Bahais religious group

Excessive use of the death penalty

Subjugation of women

The EU and soft power Use of economic incentives

Multilateralism


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Security

Terrorism, Iran stance on the MEPP, WMD

proliferation, energy security Economic

Resource rich nation (oil and gas), opportunities

for development of emerging markets

Normative

Human rights, womens and minority rights,arbitrary justice, the rule of law


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The EU motivations in pursuing the CriticalDialogue with Iran in the between 1992 and

1997 were threefold: Security

Economic

Normative The Critical Dialogue is the policy that arose

from the convergence of EUs strategicinterests and normative values


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Struwe, M. V. (1998), The policy of critical dialogue: An analysis ofEuropean human rights policy towards Iran from 1992 to 1997,Working Paper. University of Durham, Centre for Middle Eastern andIslamic Studies.

Noi, A. . (2005), Irans nuclear programme: The EU approach to Iran incomparison to the US approach, Perceptions, Spring 2005

Miller, R. (2012), The European Unions counterproductive Iran sanctions; thecase for pulling back, Foreign Affairs, 23.02.2012

Posch, W. (2007), The European Union and Iran: What next?, TheInternational Spectator, 42:4, 537-543

Commission of the European Communities (2001), EU relations with the IslamicRepublic of Iran COM(2001) 71 Final, 07.02.2001, Brussels

Everts, S. (2004), Engaging Iran; A test case for EU foreign policy,

Working Paper, Centre for European Reform, March 2004 Clawson, P. (1995), What to do about Iran?, Middle East Quarterly, 1995 2:4, 39-

49 Edinburgh European Council 11-12 December 1992-

http://wwweuroparl.europa.eu/summits/edinburgh/default_en.htm European Union Centre of North Carolina (EUCE), Europes Iran Diplomacy, EU

Briefings, March 2008
http://wwweuroparl.europa.eu/summits/edinburgh/default_en.htmhttp://wwweuroparl.europa.eu/summits/edinburgh/default_en.htmhttp://wwweuroparl.europa.eu/summits/edinburgh/default_en.htm


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The current move to impose an oil embargo onIranian oil exports to the EU represents a U-turn inEU policy from the Critical Dialogue. What

factors can explain this development?

Are sanctions an effective way of dealing withIran?

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