Summary: 12 May 2009, New York - Opening remarks by the Head of the European Commission Delegation to the United Nations, Ambassador Fernando M. Valenzuela, at a Conference on the European Union, Human Rights, and the UN Millennium Development Goals, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association at Grupo Santander
Ladies and Gentleman,
Let me start by thanking the Foreign Policy Association for offering me the opportunity to open this conference on the EU, Human Rights and the UN Millennium Development Goals. Indeed, these are subjects very dear to the EU and closely interlinked.
As we all know, development and human rights are two of the three pillars constituting the foundations of the United Nations; likewise, the EU has recognized the cardinal importance of the economic and social development and of the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. These are goals in their own right, but they are also deeply interlinked, and together form the basis for the sustainable development of any society.
The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
The EU Treaty also sets as the objectives of its cooperation with developing countries their sustainable economic and social development; their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy; and the fight against poverty. But equally important are the development and the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, as well as the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. This implies the centrality of empowering human beings in EU development cooperation.
The EU Treaty also gives the EU and its Member States an obligation to comply with the commitments and objectives approved in the context of the major UN summits and conferences. This includes the Millennium Developments Goals, which are the main focus of the EU development policy. This priority devoted to the MDGs is a core element of the European Consensus on Development which, in 2005, created the overarching policy framework for the development policies of both EU and its Member
States.
The MDGs themselves are closely intertwined with the empowerment of human beings, notably women and children. This is especially so with the education and health MDGs. In so doing, the MDGs make a crucial contribution to progress towards human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is also in this context that the EU has made a commitment to collectively devote 0.7% of its GNI to development aid by 2015, and to radically improve the coherence and effectiveness of its aid.
Yet today, progress towards the MDGs is under threat. The world is facing an unprecedented convergence of crises: the financial and economic crisis, the energy and food crisis, and the threat of climate change. As millions are at risk to return to abject poverty, it is essential for all of us to stick to our promises. The EU is determined to press ahead with its commitments, and we invite our partners to do the same. The current adverse economic conditions should not act as a deterrent. On the
contrary, we are all in the same boat, and it is only by helping each other via global solutions that we'll effectively meet these challenges.
The road ahead is fraught with difficulties and I am sure that today's panels will address some of them, and I look forward to the discussion. I therefore will stop here my remarks, thanking you all for your attention.
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