Even the defeat of Daesh will not rid Iraq of terrorism and radicalisation, and the region will still need support:

“Our country will need moral and financial support from European partners to rebuild communities and provide new opportunities for the people,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government, who spoke at the event.

Representatives from the Party of European Socialists included President Sergei Stanishev, Vice-President Jan Royall, PES Women President Zita Gurmai and MPs and MEPs from PES member parties around Europe. Iraqi officials, political leaders from the region and representatives from the Arab Social Democratic Forum also attended the conference.

Sergei Stanishev said:

“If we don’t address the root causes of terror – insecurity for the people, the power vacuum, non-functioning social and economic systems – then of course there will more radicalisation, and the risk of more young people being charmed or cheated into the ranks of Daesh.

“Europe’s social democrats stand ready to help our friends and partners in Iraq in any way.”

The PES delegation met with the military commanders of Iraqi government forces and with the commander of regional Peshmerga units, Jafar Mustafa.

President Sergei Stanishev said:

“Daesh is our common enemy. Only two years ago, few people believed that this threat could be stopped. But now, thanks to the courage and sacrifice of the Peshmerga Kurdistan soldiers, their creed of intolerance and death is being defeated.

“We are proud of the international alliance that is supporting the Iraqi people – and we will take the message back from to Europe about what we have seen today.”

Delegates from PES also visited a refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan and met representatives from the many different communities living there.

Here, next to the battlefront, there are thousands of people seeking shelter, hoping to stay close to their homes when the fighting is over.”