Highlights: European Council Summit: UN-related Aspects

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At the Brussels European Council summit last week, not only was there discussion on the ratification process of the EU Constitutional Treaty, and (unsuccessful) deliberations on the EU budget, but there were also important decisions taken in UN-related policy areas.

In fact, a significant passage of the EU Presidency Conclusions from the summit dealt with preparations for the September 2005 UN Summit, in which the European Council reaffirmed its strong support for the UN as an international relations instrument, as well as for effective multilateralism and for the process of UN reform. To this end, it underscored that the UN Secretary-General's report from March 2005 (In Larger Freedom) and the President of the General Assembly's report presented on June 3, 2005 form an excellent working basis for the declaration to be adopted in September in New York.

Furthermore, the European Council issued important Declarations on Sustainable Development, setting out guiding principles for the EU in all its policies and activities; on Kosovo, reaffirming that any solution must be fully compatible with EU values and norms, comply with international legal instruments and obligations and the UN Charter and contribute to realizing the European prospects of Kosovo and the region; on the Middle East Peace Process, welcoming the positive developments in recent months, and encouraging the parties to the conflict to make the most of this new context, to move forward resolutely in implementing the Roadmap and to avoid a new escalation of violence; and on Lebanon, welcoming the smooth conduct, thus far, of Lebanon's parliamentary elections, which correspond to the Lebanese people's desire for independence.

For the complete Presidency Conclusions from the June 16-17 Brussels European Council, please visit http://www.eu2005.lu/en/actualites/conseil/2005/06/17conseur-concl/index.html

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• Déclaration de la Présidence de l'Union européenne - le Sommet de Septembre (21/6/2005)
• Commission Adopts Strategy for Successful 2005 UN Summit (15/6/2005)