Program of the Spanish Presidency of the EU (1 January - 30 June 2002)

The challenges faced by the Union in the coming months are the fight against terrorism, the introduction of the euro, continuing economic and social reforms, fulfilling the enlargement schedule, developing a European foreign and defence policy, and the debate about the future of Europe.

Only if specific advances are achieved in these priorities will we be able to ensure that Europe becomes the area of Prosperity, Openness, Freedom and Security that its citizens are demanding.

The ultimate goal of «More Europe» is responding to citizens' expectations

Priorities at the United Nations

Spain is committed to reinforcing the role of the EU throughout the UN system, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other Geneva- and Vienna-based institutions. To this end, priority will be given to:

· implementing UNSC Res. 1373 in the fight against terrorism, striving to finalize negotiations on the Global Convention Against Terrorism and urging the adherence to the twelve conventions on matters related to terrorism

· reinforcing EU-UN cooperation in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management, continuing the work already done in this field by the Swedish and Belgian presidencies

· contributing to the implemention of the Brahimi report on peacekeeping operations

· presenting EU interests and positions in the Security Council, in the framework of art. 19 of the Treaty of the European Union

· on the basis of the EU common position, contributing to the effective setting up of the International Criminal Court as soon as possible

· establishing closer cooperation between the EU and Latin American and Caribbean countries in multilateral fora, and especially within the UN

· implementing the Millenium Declaration in all its aspects

· coordinating and advancing EU positions at the three major UN conferences which will take place during the Spanish presidency: the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10), the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing and the International Conference on Financing for Development.

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