Summary: Welcome Message from Gerhard Pfanzelter, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations (1 January 2006: New York)
Welcome to the website of the Austrian Presidency of the European Union! We hope you find this website a useful source of information.
The next six months will be a challenging and work-intensive time for Austria and the EU. Overall, we will focus on four over-arching goals: securing and creating jobs and enhancing growth; securing and further developing the European Social Model; winning the trust and confidence of citizens in the European Union; and strengthening the EU's role as a strong and reliable partner in the world.
The European Union is deeply committed to multilateralism and the work of the United Nations and aims at increasing its efficiency and transparency. In New York, we will focus on implementing the commitments of the World Summit 2005, in particular the establishment of the Human Rights Council, management reform, ECOSOC reform and development, with Africa as a priority.
Topics for discussion at the United Nations in New York from January until June 2006 will also include HIV/Aids, migration and population development, the status of women, small arms and light weapons, energy, industrial development, protection of the atmosphere, climate change and trade and development. The Austrian Presidency will try to emphasize those areas where we have particular experience, as for example energy and climate change.
We see the Presidency primarily as a service to Europe and its citizens. Our aim is to act as a mediator and honest broker. We are committed to working efficiently and effectively and to serve Europe and the United Nations well. We look forward to cooperating with all our friends and partners during the six months of our Presidency.
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