For many years, the Commission and most EU Member States have supported cooperation projects with Iranian governmental bodies (such as work on penal reform with the Judiciary), NGOs and UN agencies.

There is substantial scope for enhancing cooperation - when normal relations resume - which currently includes:

Higher education

Iranian students and scholars have studied and carried out research in European universities, with support of the EU’s Erasmus Mundus programme, which offers scholarships for masters courses in Europe. It is now being enlarged and includes a new Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window. The project brings together European universities, the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research & Technology and six Iranian universities: University of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz University, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. In its first year, over 50 Iranian scholars have already benefited from this programme to study a wide range of subjects in Europe.

Drugs control

The EU and Iran hold a regular dialogue on drugs control, and the EU supports the Iranian Drugs Control Headquarters and NGOs such as Omid-e Now who work on the drug problem in Iran. The EU also supports region-wide programmes to prevent smuggling to and through Iran.

Development cooperation and humanitarian assistance

The European Union (European Commission and EU Member States together) is the world’s largest donor of financial assistance. The EU channels its aid bilaterally, through its own departments responsible for development cooperation or humanitarian aid, as well as through UN and other international agencies.

In response to the devastating earthquake that hit the city of Bam in 2003, EU provided over € 8,5 million to help the people of Bam to deal with urgent health needs, psycho-social support and to re-build water and sanitation facilities.

Refugees

Since 2005, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), has worked with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to help the Iranian Government repatriate or resettle some of the 2 million Afghan people who have sought and found refuge in Iran. The programmes address both the needs of returnees in Afghanistan and the Iranian host communities.