The European Union (EU) issued on Tuesday a statement expressing regret at holding the referendum on the independence of Iraqi region of Kurdistan.

The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in the statement that the EU supports Iraq’s territorial integrity, pointing out that the European bloc had repeatedly called for abstaining from holding referendums on disputed regions.

Last week, the EU issued a statement saying unilateral actions, such as the proposed referendum, is counterproductive and must be avoided.

The United States and a number of European countries rejected the referendum on Kurdistan independence.