SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is in Belgium for talks with EU officials, according to state news agency.
Kadhimi arrived in Brussels on Tuesday on an official visit to meet with officials at EU headquarters in the capital.
The premier’s office said Kadhimi would hold a series of meetings with the Belgian side and the EU officials to enhance cooperation between Iraq and Europe.
Ahead of his visit, Kadhimi said his visit would focus on activating agreements concluded between Iraq and the EU states in a way that helps Iraq overcome economic crises and expand investment in the country.
Kadhimi further said Iraq “faces a seasonal shortage of electricity which the government feels, and it will take measures to address it”.
“The electricity crisis is the result of poor planning in this field, and waste of money and energies for the past long years without a clear methodology for a long-term solution,” he added.
Decades of sanctions and conflict have left Iraq, a major oil producer, with a power shortage. The country’s domestic production capacity is 19.5 gigawatts while its needs are 26.5 GW, according to Iraqi officials.
