Summary: EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Relationship between the United Nations and Regional Organizations, in particular the African Union, in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security (28 March 2007: New York)
Statement on behalf of the European Union, by H.E. Mr. Thomas Matussek, Permanent Representative of Germany, Relationship between the United Nations and Regional Organizations, in Particular the African Union, in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, UN Security Council, New York
Madam President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Serbia, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.
The European Union has a profound interest in a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Africa. A strong partnership between the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union can contribute significantly to achieving this common aim. Our three organizations are working together closely as facilitators to peace processes and as peacekeepers on the ground. We also strive to achieve sustainable peace and stability in post-conflict situations, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Burundi. At the same time, the EU supports Africa's efforts to strengthen its own capacities in crisis management and post-conflict stabilisation.
Madam President,
let me outline three areas of partnership between the AU, UN and EU in which our policies and complementary capacities contribute to peace and security in Africa:
First of all, the European Union is deeply engaged in political efforts to achieve peace and security in Africa. We play an active role in efforts to prevent conflicts, to settle disputes and to consolidate peace and stability. Our Special Representatives for Sudan, the African Great Lakes Region and the Mano River Union are instrumental in this endeavour. The Special Representative for the African Great Lakes Region, for example, worked closely with the United Nations and the African
Union for 11 years to support lasting peace in the region. He also played a key role in the successful transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Sudan, the Special Representative supports the parties in their efforts to achieve a political settlement of the conflict in Darfur, to facilitate the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to promote South-South dialogue.
In this context, let me say a few words about Darfur: The European Union is deeply concerned about the current security and humanitarian situation. We regret the negative response by the Sudanese government to the implementation of the UN heavy support package for AMIS and the deployment of the hybrid operation as agreed upon last year by the UN, the African Union and the Sudanese government itself. The EU calls upon the Sudanese government to stand by its commitments and to fully
cooperate with the UN and the AU in establishing an effective peacekeeping presence in Darfur. The EU and its member states committed around € 400 million for AMIS in Darfur and we are prepared to providing more means to uphold the vital presence of AMIS under challenging circumstances.
Secondly, the European Union supports the AU's African Peace and Security Architecture through a wide range of measures. We aim to enhance Africa's peacekeeping capacity and we warmly welcome similar efforts by the United Nations. The European Development Fund's African Peace Facility remains the main EU source of funding for this support. Based on the principle of African ownership, the Peace Facility has so far supported African peacekeeping in Darfur, the Central African Republic and
in the Comores with € 266 million overall. € 15 million have now been earmarked for AMISOM in Somalia. The Peace Facility also addresses AU needs in institutional capacity building. To date, support has been provided for a long-term assessment of AU and sub-regional organizations' needs, the strengthening of the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission, and the support given to the establishment of an African Standby Force. A new € 20 million programme focusing on the African Standby
Force and capacities at the sub-regional level is now in the pipeline. The capacities of African sub-regional organizations in conflict prevention are further supported through substantial regional programmes financed by the European Development Fund. Tripartite capacity programmes involving the UN are being considered, notably in West Africa, involving ECOWAS.
There is a clear need for sustained and predictable funding for African peace-keeping operations. The EU will consider its role in this endeavour while pointing out that other donors will also have to contribute significantly in order to ensure an adequate financial basis.
In the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy, the EU has twice supported the UN peacekeeping mission in critical phases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: In 2003 we deployed operation Artemis in Bunia to prevent a humanitarian disaster and in 2006 EUFOR RD Congo assisted MONUC during the electoral process. This military support has been complemented, since 2005, by two long-term civilian missions to support security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. We are now drawing lessons from the EUFOR operation, which will be important for further developing our relationship with the UN in the field of crisis management. This increasing co-operation also needs appropriate mechanisms of dialogue and exchange. We will continue to work with the UN Secretariat in this regard.
Thirdly, we are greatly interested in strengthening the peace-building perspective of cooperation among the EU, UN and AU. Security and development go hand in hand. Good governance, the rule of law and protection of human rights are vital elements both to conflict-prevention and peace-building. The European Development Fund will continue to support the needs of its African partners in this respect.
The European Union aims at reinforcing the political dialogue with the African Union and sub-regional organisations. Therefore, we work towards a Joint EU-African Strategy based on the principles of ownership and mutual accountability to be adopted by the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December. At the same time, the partnership between the EU and AU Commissions is steadily developing.
Madam President, I would like to thank you for convening this constructive debate. The European Union is ready to continue to provide its expertise and resources to peace and stability in Africa as a partner of both the UN and the AU. Thus, we welcome the Presidential Statement to be adopted today and we look forward to the report by the Secretary-General.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
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