Iraqi Kurdistan and Beyond: The EU's Stakes

In 2017, Iraq saw events that dramatically changed its political and societal reality. Not only the territorial defeat of the so-called Islamic State but also the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum and the retaking of the disputed areas by Iraqi forces loyal to Baghdad had important implications for the Middle East as a whole and also affected the strategic calculations of external players with a stake in the region. The European Union should catch this opportunity to play a more proactive role in its Iraq policy by focusing on institution-building and reconciliation between Iraqis, including the Kurds.