Message of Welcome from Sir Emyr Jones Parry, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in NY

Welcome to the website of the UK's Presidency of the European Union at the United Nations in New York.

The UK assumed the Presidency of the European Union on 1 July. Like all Presidencies, our work is largely determined by the inherited agenda of the EU, and by external events that happen during our Presidency. The Presidency responsibility is to direct and lead the work of the Union, furthering its interests and promoting discussion and agreement amongst member states.

In New York, the Presidency is concerned with the EU's contribution to the ongoing policy-making work of the UN, and, particularly this year, with UN reform in the context of the Millennium Review Summit in September. Our interest is to ensure that the EU contributes positively to finding solutions to global problems such as poverty, conflict, humanitarian disasters, terrorism, and climate change.

The EU is strongly committed to multilateralism and we will aim to drive an effective multilateral process during our Presidency. We have a great opportunity this year to effect change. The Millennium Summit in New York will be the most significant opportunity in years to improve the way the international community deals with development, security and human rights. Specific areas of focus include more and better aid, sustainable development, Africa, better structures at the UN on peacebuilding and human rights, terrorism, non-proliferation and disarmament, the responsibility to protect, management reform at the UN and reform of the UN's humanitarian, development and environment structures. The UK, as EU Presidency, will work hard to ensure that the EU plays a vital part in getting agreement to an ambitious and positive Summit outcome document for Heads of State and Government in September. Thereafter we will focus on ensuring the implementation of the Summit commitments. Our priorities at the Summit synchronise with our current G8 Presidency, which focuses on Africa and climate change.

The EU will continue to be a strong partner for interlocutors in negotiations in both ECOSOC and the General Assembly. We will support the implementation of the Capital Master Plan and will work towards a budget agreement which is fair. The Presidency will lead the EU in negotiations on two treaty negotiations scheduled this year - the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, and a Protocol to enhance the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

The UK aims to run EU business at the UN in an efficient and balanced way, and will be ambitious but practical. The second half of 2005 offers great opportunity in a number of areas of the UN's work - we will work hard with our EU partners to grasp this.

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• Calendar of UK Presidency July - December 2005 (1/7/2005)
• Directory of the UK Mission to the United Nations (1/7/2005)
• UK Presidency 2005 Priorities (1/7/2005)