Highlights

Welcome to the official e-mail alert service of the European Union at the United Nations.

The 15 EU Heads of State and Government committed themselves just before the Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey to reach an average of 0.39% ODA/GNI (Overseas Development Assistance/Gross National Income) by 2006. At Monterrey, this was calculated to represent an EU increase of at least USD 7 billion annually by 2006. During the interim period 2000-2006, there will also be an overall increase of at least USD 20 billion in EU ODA. The EU already represents half of all ODA worldwide, a total of USD 25.4 billion in 2000 including humanitarian aid. For more information, please click here. Both EU President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and European Commission President Romano Prodi made statements on the measures that the EU was taking to reduce the world's inequalities.

This week, the 58th Session of the Commission on Human Rights opened in Geneva. The EU has agreed its human rights policy for this Commission's session - and in particular towards China. Please click here. The EU High Representative Javier Solana said the EU places human rights at the core of its international relations more than ever before - and that more than ever before, the EU is developing the means to defend those human rights when they are under threat. Please click here.

In Vienna, the EU invited the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to consider switching to a single currency system using the euro. Please click here. In a memorandum, please click here, the EU reminded the IAEA that UNIDO had already agreed to change their budget assessments into euro, as had the World Tourism Organisation and the International Criminal Court. Other organisations such as the FAO and WFP in Rome are presently discussing the issue. Those international organisations based on eurozone currencies (OECD, OPCW) changed automatically to the euro on 1st January 2002.

During the past few days, issues of further interest include:

* The European Commission adopted a proposal on the conclusion of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which aims at ensuring the ratification of the Protocol by the EU. Please click here.

* The EU said that all efforts should be made in order to reduce the negative effects that sanctions may have on non-targeted States, without undermining the efficiency of the sanctions regimes themselves. Please click here.

* The EU supported South Africa's resolution on trade in conflict diamonds and the envisaged international certification scheme. Please click here.

* The European Commission announced new humanitarian aid packages for North Korea and Somalia.

* The EU called for prompt payment of all UN Member States' financial contributions to help improve UN financial management. For further information, please click here.

* Latest details of the EU's aid to Afghanistan have been published. Please click here.

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• Highlights (15/7/2002)
• Highlights (28/5/2002)
• Highlights (16/5/2002)
• Highlights (3/5/2002)
• Highlights (29/4/2002)
• Highlights (19/4/2002)
• Highlights (10/4/2002)
• Highlights (1/4/2002)
• Highlights on the Middle East (1/4/2002)
• Highlights (12/3/2002)
• Highlights (5/3/2002)
• Highlights (25/2/2002)
• Highlights (15/2/2002)
• Highlights (31/1/2002)
• La Unión Europea crea su sitio de internet en Naciones Unidas (23/1/2002)