Head of Delegation: Ambassador Lars-Erik Lundin
The Delegation of the European Commission was opened in Vienna in 1979 as a Delegation to Austria and to the International Organisations in Vienna. With the accession of Austria to the European Union in 1995, the European Commission established a separate Representation of the European Commission to Austria. The Delegation of the European Commission to the International Organisations in Vienna is responsible for the representation of the European Community at the United Nations
organisations established in Vienna, in particular the United Nations Office in Vienna, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, at other specialised bodies such as the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
At the UN, the Delegation of the European Commission represents the European Communities as permanent observer in the main UN bodies listed below. In this capacity, it is entitled to actively participate in the proceedings of these organisations, including the preparations for, as well as the actual meetings of, their governing bodies. In these activities, the Delegation of the European Commission notably intervenes and comments on subjects and activities falling under Community competence.
Moreover, the Delegation acts as liaison between the Vienna-based UN organisations and relevant HQ-based Commission services (Brussels, Luxembourg, Ispra…).
The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, (www.iaea.org) serves as the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field, and as the international inspectorate for the application of nuclear safeguards and verification measures covering civilian nuclear programmes. The European Commission represents the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) - as observer - at the meetings of
the IAEA Governing Bodies. This role has become increasingly important in recent years, as the political profile of the IAEA has been considerably heightened by its involvement in safeguards issues relating, inter alia, to North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Libya. On a more technical level, an 1975 agreement between Euratom and the IAEA aims at promoting closer administrative and technical cooperation. This objective is achieved notably by means of co-operation between Euratom and the IAEA with regard
to nuclear inspections within the EU, and of Euratom's safeguards support programme - which provides technical assistance in terms of manpower, equipment and services. In addition, the European Commission has also been tasked with the financial management of the EU's Joint Action supporting IAEA activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Finally, Euratom is party to both the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the
Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, for which the IAEA provides the Secretariat.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, (www.unodc.org) - formerly the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, ODCCP - is tasked with undertaking UN efforts to combat the cultivation, production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, and to promote crime prevention and criminal justice worldwide. The European Commission, representing the European Community, actively participates in UNODC's main
Governing Bodies, namely the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). Moreover, the European Community is party to the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and to the more recent UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. In addition, it has signed the three Protocols of the latter Convention. The European Commission also finances specific UNODC projects, for example, on
strengthening counter-narcotics co-operation on the Afghan-Iranian border. In January 2005, an exchange of letters between the European Commission and UNODC established a basis for enhanced co-operation between the two organisations, inter alia, by providing for annual bilateral meetings.
The International Narcotics Control Board, INCB, is the independent and quasi-judicial control body for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions. It was established in 1968 by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961. The INCB is independent of Governments as well as of the United Nations; its 13 members serve in their personal capacity. In the execution of its duties, the INCB maintains an informal dialogue with the European Commission.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, (www.unido.org) mobilises knowledge, skills, information and technology in order to promote productivity growth, a competitive economy and a sound environment in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In January 1993, a UNIDO-European Commission Agreement entered into force to coordinate activities and to cooperate in matters of mutual interest.
Following the more recent reform of UNIDO, the single largest project currently being executed by the Organisation- establishing an accreditation, standardisation and quality promotion infrastructure in Western Africa - is financed by European Community funds.
The Delegation also maintains contacts with the UN Committee on International Trade Law, UNCITRAL, (www.uncitral.org) which works towards the progressive harmonisation of international trade law, and with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, OOSA, (www.oosa.unvienna.org), which is the focal point of UN efforts to promote international cooperation in the peaceful
uses of outer space.
The United Nations Office at Vienna, UNOV, (www.unvienna.org) is the Vienna-based office for administration and coordination with the wider United Nations system. It is located in the Vienna International Centre, which also houses the other UN entities referred to above.
In addition to its work with the relevant UN organisations, the Delegation also follows discussions and exchanges information with other international organisations:
The Wassenaar Arrangement (www.wassenaar.org) which promotes transparency and responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies. Participating States, through their national policies, have to ensure that the transfer of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals, and are not diverted to support such capabilities.
Currently, 24 EU Member States are participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement. The European Commission is very interested in following the developments within the Wassenaar Arrangement as the EC Regulation 1334/2000 sets up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use goods and technologies.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group, NSG (www.nsg-online.org) is a group of nuclear supplier countries which seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear related exports. The NSG Guidelines are implemented by each Participating Government in accordance with its national laws and practices. Decisions on export applications are taken at the national
level in accordance with national export licensing requirements. The European Commission participates as an observer.
Finally, the Delegation also follows, to a certain extent, developments with regard to the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation, CTBTO (www.ctbto.org) which is responsible for the establishment of a global verification regime to monitor compliance with the comprehensive ban on explosive nuclear testing.
To learn more, please visit the website of the Vienna delegation.
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