EU Presidency Statement - Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia , the Countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro align themselves with this statement.

2. The European Union wishes to express its appreciation for the concise but comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization.

3. The European Union shares the view of the Secretary-General that the United Nations has been going through an extraordinary challenging year with ongoing and newly developing crisis situations. Clearly, some of the challenges have been around for a longer period of time. But, in several cases, we are making slower progress in addressing them than the situation calls for. Results in several cases have been mixed at best.

4. The political crises we are facing (like Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian relations, Darfur, Great Lakes) and the need to meet the increasing demands for peacekeeping and humanitarian emergencies can seem overwhelming. But it is essential that we meet the challenges. Several conclusions are clear. Conflict prevention and post-conflict situations need to be handled in a better manner. Our joint efforts in combating terrorists and proliferation of weapons, in particular WMD's must be increased. We must all work for worldwide respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We should not cease in our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, fight poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor both among and within countries, stop global crime (drugs, human trafficking, money laundering) and redress environmental degradation.

5. To the EU, the United Nations is uniquely placed to provide the framework for international cooperation. There is no substitute in the international community. But in order to be more effective, the organization has to adapt to changing conditions. This requires, most of all, an open and constructive attitude of its member states and a willingness to support change. But it also requires an organization that focuses on priorities, intensifies its internal cooperation, coordination and coherence, improves its human resources management, and strengthens its budget process and its accountability. The EU gave its views on these matters during the joint plenary debate last Monday.

6. The European Union itself is strongly committed to support these efforts to strengthen the UN. It has committed itself to effective multilateralism as a central element of its external action. We believe that none of the current international challenges can be tackled in an isolated manner or unilaterally. We understand that our security and development are inextricably linked to the security and development of others.

7. Our objective is the development of a stronger international community, well-functioning international institutions and a rules-based international order, within the fundamental framework of the UN Charter. The UN is in our view at the core of such an international order.

8. In this regard, it is necessary to intensify efforts to reach a consensus on changes in the institutional architecture in order to assure that our objectives in the areas of peace, security, development and good governance are met. We considered the establishment by the Secretary-General of the High Level panel on threats, Challenges and Change to be of the highest importance. We look forward to discuss the Panel's report and the Secretary-General's recommendations thereon in a constructive manner. We also look forward on the report by the Millenium Project and to discuss the follow-up to the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization and to the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN- Civil Society relations.

9. The EU considers the High Level Event at the beginning of the 2005 General Assembly a logical culmination point. We see this event as a key moment to agree or re-affirm fundamental principles and to agree on urgent measures to achieve all the commitments of the Millenium Declaration, including the Millennium Development Goals. The event should encourage progress in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits and conferences in the economic and social areas, including in particular the follow-up to the Monterrey and Johannesburg Summits. The EU will give more detailed views during our debate in November on the follow-up of the Millennium Summit and the follow-up to the implementation of the outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields.

10. The EU welcomes the continued trend towards strengthening partnerships between the UN and regional organizations in the shared pursuit of peace, stability and development in the various regions. In particular, we wish to commend and support the enhanced role of the African Union and its peace and security structures in the stabilization of regional crises. The European Union is aware of its responsibility as a regional organization in the areas of conflict prevention, crisis management and peacekeeping operations. The September 2003 Joint Declaration on UN-EU Co-operation in Crisis Management provided a framework for both organizations to develop practical avenues for expanded cooperation. A joint consultative mechanism, the UN-EU Steering committee in Crisis Management Activities, oversees the implementation of this Declaration.

11. Finally, the Secretary-General mentions in his report the crucial role that the UN has played in the establishment of the International Criminal Court and the arrangements for the commencement of its operations. Without the UN, the ICC would not have come into existence. The purposes of the UN and of the ICC are mutually reinforcing, and close cooperation between the UN and the ICC should now proceed, on the basis of the Relationship Agreement that entered into force on 3 October 2004. More than half of the UN membership - 97 States - have now become Parties to the Rome Statute, and we encourage an even wider ratification. The ICC is now operational with 2 situations being investigated by the Prosecutor. The EU recalls its continuous support for the ICC and to the efforts of the international community to fight impunity. We are firmly convinced that the Statute provides all necessary safeguards against the use of the Court for politically motivated purposes and are committed to preserving the integrity of the Statute.

Mr. President,

Let me conclude by applauding the Secretary-General and his staff for the work they have undertaken in the past year, often under extremely difficult circumstances, and always acting within the framework of the principles and purposes of the Charter. We will have to take decisions on a potentially major overhaul of the safety and security policies of the organization, both for headquarters and in the field. The EU looks forward to receiving the Secretariat's report on safety and security and will support appropriate improvements in security measures.

Let me assure you that the European Union is, and will be, on your side.

Thank you, Mr. President.

| Top |