The European Union and the Kurds in Iran

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter presented an extensive analysis of the EU’s actorness in the Kurdish issue in Iran. The chapter started by examining whether and how the EU has, as an actor, identified, formulated and represented common interests in relation to the Kurdish issue in Iran. Furthermore, the chapter included an assessment of the EU’s acceptance by Iran, one of the two primary stakeholders. Finally, the analysis included an assessment of the EU’s performance and assessed the broader impact of the EU’s actorness in the Kurdish issue in Iran. The EU does not have a distinct policy toward the Kurds in Iran, nor has it developed a relationship with any Kurdish groups in Iran. Several factors are identified for this lack of involvement. In terms of EU’s performance and impact, while the EU has adopted a strong normative rhetoric vis-à-vis Iran, it does not have sufficient tools to pressure Iran. In recent years, the EU has entered another phase of minimal trade and political interactions with Iran, diminishing EU leverage.