Former European Commissioners blast EU deals with Iran

، speaks at a joint press conference with Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Javad Zarif. Tehran, July 2015.

Former Commissioners Karel de Gucht and Louis Michel have criticised European Union moves to strike business deals with Iran, urging EU institutions and member states to make them conditional on Tehran improving its dismal human rights record.

Both politicians played an important role in shaping the EU’s dealings with other countries over the last decade. Michel, father of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid between 2004 and 2009. De Gucht was in charge of the trade portfolio between 2010 and 2014.

The call will come as an embarrassment to the current European Commission. In April, the EU responded to the lifting of the economic and financial sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme with a landmark visit to the country of eight Commissioners, led by foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.http://bit.ly/2aiHlht