EU ambassador conveys bloc’s ‘support’ for incoming Iraqi government in meeting with Zaidi

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi met Tuesday with European Union Ambassador to Iraq Klemens Semtner, who conveyed a message from EU member states expressing support for the incoming government and readiness to cooperate across various sectors.

The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation between Iraq and EU countries and ways to strengthen ties through bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding, according to a statement from Zaidi’s media office.

Zaidi submitted his government program to Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi last week. He faces a constitutional deadline at the end of May to present his cabinet for a confidence vote, though he is facing snags in forming it as disputes intensify within the Coordination Framework over ministerial allocations and reported U.S. conditions barring ministers linked to armed factions from the next government.