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EU Presidency Statement - Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the UN and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia , the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, I would like to thank the members of the Special Committee for their comprehensive report on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization (A/59/33). During the last working session of the Charter Committee its members continued the debate on issues regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, the peaceful settlement of disputes, proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council, the Repertory of Practice of UN Organs and the Repertoire of the practice of the Security Council, as well as the working methods of the Special Committee.

I would like first to refer to the deliberations on the maintenance of international peace and security, in particular with regard to the implementation of the Charter provisions relating to assistance to third States affected by sanctions. The European Union is of the opinion that sanctions can be and have been effectively employed against States, entities, and groups of individuals that threaten international peace and security. However, it realises that sanctions can entail unintended negative effects on civilian population and third states. Therefore, we welcome the continuing recourse of the Security Council to targeted sanctions, which preserve the effectiveness of sanctions, while minimising their unintended negative impact. We support the continuation of debate on how to further reduce unintended negative effects. The effectiveness of sanctions remains paramount.

In this context, we welcome that important work on this subject is done in other fora within the United Nations. Member States of the EU and the EU Commission have dedicated conferences and workshops to specific questions related to sanctions. The Secretary-General presented his report on the implementation of the Charter provisions relating to assistance to third States affected by sanctions, but also the Security Council undertook action in this regard, for example the establishment of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues of sanctions, and more recently, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established in accordance with Security Council resolution 1526 (2004).

Apart from that, the Russian Federation presented its revised working paper on the base-line conditions and standard criteria for the introduction and implementation of sanctions and coercive measures. That paper certainly provides a useful basis for further consideration. However, the European Union believes that the issues addressed in that working paper could be better discussed in one of the other fora dealing with the subject of sanctions than in the Charter Committee.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the European Union reiterates its support for placing emphasis on the existing means of peaceful settlement, the need to have recourse to them at an early stage, and the principle of free choice of means (based on art. 33 of the UN Charter).

With regard to the proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council, the European Union holds the view that it would be premature to abolish the Council or change its status. The Council's existence does not entail any financial implications for the United Nations, while assigning new functions to it would require an amendment to the Charter.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union welcomes the recommendations of the Special Committee regarding the Repertory of Practice of UN Organs and the Repertoire of the practice of the Security Council, as well as the conclusions of the Secretary-General in his report on these publications. The European Union took note of the current status of the publications, and especially welcomes the progress made towards making the Repertory available on the internet without costs for the United Nations.

Mr. Chairman,

As regards the working methods of the Special Committee, the European Union strongly supports several of the suggestions made in the revised working paper that was introduced by Japan, and co-sponsored by the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Uganda and Australia.

We regret that until now only minimal reforms in the working methods of the Committee could be achieved. The Union reiterates that it still stands ready to support initiatives that could improve the working methods and might revitalise the Charter Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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