Commission Adopts Strategy for Successful 2005 UN Summit

Sommaire: June 15, 2005: Commission Adopts Strategy for Successful 2005 UN Summit (Brussels)

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The Commission has today adopted a strategy for achieving ambitious results at the UN Summit held on 14 to 16 September 2005. The strategy includes its position on some key issues dealt with by the Summit Draft Outcome document, as presented by the UN General Assembly President, Mr Jean Ping, on 3 June 2005 such as security, development, trade, the environment, human rights and democracy. The Commission also outlines how it intends to contribute effectively to implementation after the Summit. Concrete suggestions are provided for making operational the Peacebuilding Commission and a Human Rights Council and for developing a UN Environment Organisation. In the run up to the Summit the Commission will be working to find a consensus on these important global issues.

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said:"The EU should keep the ambition for the Summit high and reach out to our international partners to make it a success. However, the Commission is also looking beyond the Summit and wishes to see its results become a reality."

The Commission will continue to play an active role in Summit preparations: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner expressed support for a successful Summit at meetings on 3 June 2005 with the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and the UN General Assembly President, Mr Jean Ping in New York.

The Commission advocates the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission. The EU is well placed to contribute actively to this body from its experience in peacebuilding around the world, in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Therefore it is proposed that the European Community participate in all meetings of the Peacebuilding Commission.

The Commission is committed to strengthening the efficiency of the UN with respect to human rights and democracy through upgrading the UN Commission on Human Rights to a Human Rights Council (HCR). The Communication underlines the importance of putting in place the HCR soon after the Summit.

The Commission welcomes the proposal of a UN democracy fund and would like it to be operational by early 2006. The Commission will provide its expertise gained from its close partnership with the UN on electoral assistance.

In the environment field, the Commission is committed to achieving ambitious targets: It strongly supports a decision on the establishment of a UN Environment Organisation and is working with international partners towards a framework to combat climate change beyond 2012.

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said: "In this current crisis in the construction of Europe, for me it is essential that Europe demonstrates its will to be an actor of globalization, working for a better framework, for a better distribution of the benefits and in countering its negative effects. This is the message which has to come out from our commitment to the UN Summit."

In May, the EU collectively committed an additional €20 billion per year of overseas development aid by 2010 and a further €45 billion a year as of 2015. The EU will encourage other members of the UN to follow its example by setting ambitious targets for development assistance, improving aid efficiency, ensuring policy coherence and focusing attention on Africa. The strategy emphasises the mobilisation of trade as an engine for development.

For more information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/un/index.htm

Ref: EC05-227EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 15/6/2005

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