Summary: 13 January 2010, New York – Statement on behalf of the European Union by Pedro Serrano, Acting Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union, at the United Nations Security Council Debate on cooperation of the United Nations with regional and sub-regional organisations in maintaining international peace and security
Mr. President, Madam Deputy Secretary General, Distinguished representatives,
This is a day of deep grief. On behalf of the European Union I wish to convey heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Haiti, to the Governments of the countries that have suffered casualties and to all the families affected. The EU and its Member State are already actively involved in rescue and relief efforts. We are hopeful that our dear friend Hedi Annabi and members of his staff will be rescued. I reiterate the full support of the European Union to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in these difficult moments.
Mr. President,
Let me start by thanking you for inviting the European Union to this important debate. I also wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the retreat just completed in Greentree that has allowed for very good exchanges with regional organisations.
The challenges facing the international community - poverty, conflict, terrorism, non-proliferation, climate change, etc - are closely interlinked and of a magnitude that requires collective action. This is why the UN is at the centre of the European Union's international engagement. It was already recognised in the European Security Strategy. It is now enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. The close cooperation of the European Union and its Member States with and within the United Nations is a powerful reality.
The EU is working intensely with the UN Secretary-General and with the Security Council in support of the maintenance of international peace and security, in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter and relevant Security Council decisions, including Resolution 1631 (2005). Currently, the European Union is conducting 11 crisis management operations, and working together with the UN in 8 major crisis theatres in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. It reports to the UN Security Council regularly on three of these operations. It has succeeded UN peace keeping operations in a number of crisis areas and is contributing to the final stabilisation of the Balkans after the terrible wars of the 1990s. Ultimately, this will be achieved by the integration of this region into the European Union, an objective to which the EU remains firmly committed.
These European contributions have helped the UN to concentrate its efforts in other areas, particularly in Africa, but here as well the EU maintains a high level of engagement. In the past, the EU has deployed two military operations in the DRC in support of MONUC and is currently working with the UN and the Congolese Government in the reform of its security sector. The EU has assisted the AU in Darfur and deployed an operation in Chad at the UN's request, now replaced by MINURCAT.
The EU is working very closely with the UN and the AU to contribute to a peaceful solution to the Somali crisis. The EU is assisting in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia with its naval operation ATALANTA, cooperating with many naval forces of other UN Member States. ATALANTA is providing escorts to UN chartered vessels that bring to Mogadishu technical support and humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the EU is assisting the TFG in the development of its security forces and is supporting AMISOM.
Besides its engagement on the ground, the EU is also ready to contribute to the ongoing development of a forward-looking agenda for UN peacekeeping that reflects the perspectives of all stakeholders and, in view of that, welcomes the New Horizon initiative launched by DPKO and DFS.
Mr. President,
The EU has 15 Special Representatives and Envoys that work together with their UN, AU and other international counterparts in negotiation processes and conflict prevention endeavours. The EU is also actively supporting State building efforts, including in the field of security sector reform, and broader efforts to promote democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Through ECHO it is a main provider of humanitarian assistance. A network of 135 EU delegations in third countries and at multilateral organisations constitutes the institutional backbone of all these efforts.
The EU is working with partners within the UN to protect civilians and guarantee respect for human rights, to fight terrorism more effectively, and to ensure that the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy takes place in the best safety, security and non-proliferation conditions.
Mr. President,
The EU remains aware of the multidimensional nature of security when dealing with other important challenges. On climate change, the EU has set for itself ambitious targets, including in terms of international assistance. The initial political agreement reached in Copenhagen must now be translated into firm obligations and followed by effective implementation. We cannot afford to fail.
On development, the combined assistance of the EU and its Member States amounts to approximately 60% of international aid. We will examine later this year at the highest level progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. We are not on track. The EU will engage energetically with all UN Member States and main actors, under the guidance of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in order to ensure that this opportunity to redouble our collective efforts is not lost.
In this context, I wish to reaffirm the EU's strong support for the regional integration agenda as a privileged means to achieve economic growth and peace. The EU has developed regional strategies in partnership with all world regions, in full respect of the principle of ownership. Regional organisations play a leading role in the implementation of the substantial funds allocated by the EU in this context.
The Africa-EU Strategic Partnership adopted by Heads of State and Government in December 2007 deserves special mention. It covers all fields of economic and political cooperation. It reveals an untapped potential for developing further triangular regional cooperation involving the UN. A genuine trilateral UN-AU-EU relationship is already in the making.
Mr. President,
The Lisbon Treaty has simplified the international representation of the European Union and given it continuity. The creation of an External Action Service under the leadership of High Representative Catherine Ashton will help to enhance the strategic direction, coherence and effectiveness of the European foreign policy. It will also help the EU improve its cooperation with international partners, and in particular the UN. We look forward to working with UN members and the UN Secretariat to ensure that the new EU structures will work efficiently within the UN.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
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