EU Presidency Statement - UN 2005 World Summit

Statement of the European Union accompanying the speech of The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to the United Nations World Summit

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey 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, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

I. Introduction

1. The UN Summit has brought together Heads of State and Government from across the world to agree on a bold agenda for change. Sixty years after the San Francisco Conference, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN by adopting a substantial package of reforms which will empower the organisation to tackle the pressing challenges of development, peace and security, and human rights.

2. The EU has always had a deep commitment to the United Nations, to upholding and developing international law, and to effective multilateralism. We have been proud to work together with so many partners, both before and during the Summit, to achieve this important outcome. The EU would like to express its thanks for the work done by the Secretary-General and, in particular, to congratulate him for setting up the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, and for the contribution of his own report, "In Larger Freedom". The EU also wants to thank the President of the 59th General Assembly, Jean Ping, and his team of facilitators for their constructive and dedicated work.

II. Development

3. We live in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. Never before has the partnership for development been more important than now. Developing countries have the prime responsibility for their own development, but the developed world has a responsibility too. The EU is committed to providing more and better aid, including through multilateral debt relief and innovative sources of finance, to help meet the Millennium Development Goals as well as other existing commitments. These commitments are set out in the separate EU statement on Financing for Development.

4. The EU has three particular priorities - good governance, the social dimension of globalisation, and the special needs of Africa. Much of Africa is way-off target to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The EU considers Africa a priority for action and it will step up its efforts to assist African countries to reach the MDGs. The EU is working to draw up a new long-term global strategy towards Africa with a view to agreeing it at the European Council in December 2005. As part of this 'Partnership for Africa' at least 50% of the increase in ODA resources, which the EU agreed at the European Council in June, will collectively be allocated to the African continent. Aid for countries which are emerging from conflict and for fragile states will also be improved. At present four out of the five countries which exceed the UN target for ODA of 0.7% of GNI are members of the EU. The Council has adopted a timetable for fifteen Member States to achieve this target by 2015, with an intermediate target for the whole EU of 0.56% of GNI by 2010, and calls on partners to follow this lead. These commitments should see annual EU aid double to over $80 billion in 2010 compared to 2004 levels.

5. International trade can be a powerful engine for economic growth and development, helping people to lift themselves out of poverty. The EU therefore strongly supports the call for rapid, ambitious and pro-poor completion of the Doha Development Round. We should take this opportunity to make an ambitious step towards trade liberalisation in all negotiating areas. The EU also supports the call for improved market access for Least Developed Countries, a call that the EU has already translated into practice. We encourage all other industrialised countries in a position to do so to do the same. By channelling more and better aid to support trade, we can help ensure that no country is denied the benefits of a growing world economy. The EU is already the largest donor in this field and, as announced at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, will further expand European Community trade-related assistance in the future. The EU is convinced that developing countries should decide and reform trade policy in line with their broader national development plans, and we stand ready to provide additional assistance to help poor countries build the capacity to trade.

6. The EU emphasises the necessity of a multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS as laid down in the European Programme for Action to confront HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, adopted by the Council of the European Union of June 16/17. It urges the 2006 General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS to agree on a comprehensive agenda with the aim of universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010. It further recognises that the MDGs cannot be attained without progress in achieving the Cairo goal of universal sexual and reproductive health and rights. The EU notes that this linkage is reflected in the Outcome Document. In this context, the EU strongly supports a subsequent technical process to examine how best to incorporate related targets and monitoring indicators under MDG5. Furthermore, we underline the importance of gender equality and thus the full implementation of the Beijing declaration and platform for action

7. The EU welcomes the positive language on environmental sustainability in the Outcome Document and reaffirms its view that, as part of the commitment to undertaking concrete actions and measures at all levels, environmental sustainability should be fully integrated into national development strategies. The EU also emphasises the central role of environmental sustainability issues. Climate change threatens the achievement of the MDGs and all our long-term futures. We must take urgent and concerted global action to stabilise concentrations of Greenhouse Gases at a level that is safe. This means countries meeting all their commitments and obligations under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. It also means initiating negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference in Montreal this November on the development of a more inclusive and equitable international framework for climate change beyond 2012. It is equally essential to improve management of the natural resource base for development. The EU strongly welcomes agreement to explore the possibility of a more coherent institutional framework for environmental activities within the UN system, including a more integrated structure, building on existing institutions. The EU recalls its proposition that this should lead to the creation of a specialised agency or UN Environment Organisation. Further efforts are required on, among other things, biodiversity, desertification, water, sanitation, energy, and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. A successful replenishment of the GEF will be needed to achieve this. The EU also fully supports the efforts to establish a world-wide early warning system for all natural hazards and to promote disaster risk reduction strategies.

III. Peace and collective security

8. Freedom from want and freedom from fear are inseparable. The Secretary-General set out eloquently how we live in a world where we all benefit from collective security; and all suffer when it is lacking. Development, security and human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Furthermore, social development and gender equality are essential requirements for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and for promoting just and safe societies.

9. The Peacebuilding Commission offers the chance to break the cycle of conflict, and address the root causes, by developing more coherent, consistent and better-funded strategies, and to sustain political attention on a country as it makes the transition from conflict to long-term development. The establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission was always one of the EU's main priorities for the Summit, and we therefore strongly welcome the agreement to create it. We underline the EU's commitment to ensure the body becomes operational no later than 31 December 2005.

10. People around the world continue to suffer at the hands of terrorists. The EU welcomes the clear condemnation of terrorism in the Outcome Document. The EU strongly supports the call to conclude and agree the draft of the Comprehensive Convention on international terrorism, including a legal definition of terrorist acts, during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. Concluding such a definition would strengthen international condemnation of such acts. The EU also welcomes the call for all states to sign and ratify all 13 existing UN counter-terrorism conventions. It welcomes the emphasis given to strengthening the verification and enforcement capacities and underlines that it is essential to ensure an appropriate implementation in these areas. At the same time, the EU underlines that efforts to combat terrorism must be carried out in full conformity with international law, and should always adhere to the fundamental principle of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law. We welcome the emphasis given to protection for victims. The EU endorses the Secretary-General's counter-terrorism strategy and its five pillars, and invites UN members to support the development in the General Assembly, of a strategy to promote a comprehensive, co-ordinated and consistent response to counter terrorism at the national, regional and international level.

11. The EU agrees with the Secretary-General Annan that the failure to agree a substantive section on non-proliferation and disarmament in the Summit outcome document is a disappointment. The UK as EU Presidency was involved in the extensive efforts to broker agreement on these key issues.

12. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery are a threat to international peace and security. The use of such weapons, as the Secretary General made clear in May, would be disastrous for all of us. The EU continues to strongly support the important non-proliferation of WMD measures by which the member states of the United Nations are bound in accordance with resolution 1540 of the Security Council. The European Union regards the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with its Article VI, and an important element in the further development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes. We must continue to defend this consensus, and support the universalisation of the NPT. The EU therefore expresses deep concern at the potential implications for international peace and security if countries withdraw from the NPT and urges the adoption of measures to deal with consequences of such withdrawal. The CTBT, by prohibiting all nuclear weapon test explosions and other nuclear explosions, plays an equally crucial role in the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime. For this reason, the EU places the utmost importance on the earliest possible entry into force of the CTBT.

13. The EU furthermore considers that the IAEA Model Additional Protocol should be adopted as the standard for verification. The EU supports within the Disarmament Conference the immediate start and early conclusion of a non-discriminatory, universally applicable Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, without pre-conditions, and bearing in mind the special co-ordinator's report and the mandate contained therein. Pending entry into force of such a Treaty, the EU calls on all States to declare and uphold a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The EU welcomes the action of those of the five nuclear-weapon States that have decreed a moratorium. The EU considers that those states that forego the nuclear fuel cycle on a voluntary basis, and meet all nuclear non-proliferation obligations, should enjoy assured access to the market for nuclear fuel and related services. In the nuclear, chemical and biological field, the international community must find ways to promote universal adherence to, national implementation of, and compliance with the relevant treaties. The EU reaffirms its commitment to the Proliferation Security Initiative and its Statement of Interdiction Principles, which is a global response to a global problem. We call on all States to commit themselves to deepen co-operation in order to counter trafficking in WMD, delivery means and related materials.

14. At the same time as taking strong action to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we must take concrete steps to limit the carnage caused by small arms and light weapons. Uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses a significant obstacle to human security and development. We urge all states and development agencies to address armed violence and availability of such weapons as part of their development assistance programmes. The EU also supports minimum common international controls on SALW transfers (import, export and transhipment and including criteria and guidelines) and provisions on ammunition to be included in the UNPOA and calls for these issues to be discussed at the UN Programme of Action (UNPOA) PrepCon in January 2006 and in the Review meeting June 2006. We welcome the Outcome Document's statement on implementation in all its aspects of the UNPOA. Those international standards, which attract consensus support, should be included in the UNPOA, and further work to complete the task should be mandated if necessary. International action to remove the threat to human safety from land mines is also of great importance. We call upon State parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention to fully implement their obligations, and we invite those States that are standing apart to promptly accede to the convention.

15. The EU also emphasises the importance of conflict prevention and strengthening of UN peacekeeping capabilities. In this context, the EU supports the further development of organisational capacities in conflict prevention, resolution, peace-building and good governance at the regional and sub-regional levels, including through the capacity-building plan for the African Union. With regard to the use of force, the EU is of the view that a set of principles, as suggested by the Secretary-General, could contribute to the Security Council's debates on the use of force and increase its authority.

16. The EU recognises the threat that environmental degradation poses to security. The UN should fully integrate environmental issues at the programming and policymaking level in conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, development policy, peacebuilding and reconstruction activities. The link between the illicit exploitation of natural resources (such as diamonds or timber) and conflict has emerged as a constant in some of the most brutal conflicts of recent times, particularly in Africa. There is a need for action, building on the success of specific multilateral initiatives such as the Kimberley Process, to prevent a range of commodities being used to fuel conflict.

IV. Human rights and the rule of law

17. Human rights, the rule of law and democracy have rightly been given a prominent place in the reform proposals. Getting the details right in the subsequent negotiations will be key to turning these aspirations into reality. We believe that human rights issues are relevant to all aspects of the UN's work and welcome the call for human rights mainstreaming throughout the system. The EU strongly endorses the consensus to strengthen the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its field offices and to double its regular budget funding over the next five to six years.

18. The commitment to establish a Human Rights Council is a core element of the Summit. This Council must reflect at the institutional level the centrality and universality of human rights, as well as the aim of placing them on the same footing as development, peace and security. In carrying out its mandate, the Council should preserve and build on the strengths and best practices of the Commission on Human Rights, including the system of special procedures and participation of civil society and the ability to address urgent and serious human rights situations around the world. We look forward to agreeing the details of the Council's operation as speedily as possible, in order properly to reflect the centrality of human rights at the heart of our work.

19. The fight against impunity and the rendering of justice being vital dimensions of the rule of law, the EU stresses its support for the International Criminal Court as well as the existing ad hoc and mixed criminal tribunals and other mechanisms for international justice.

20. The EU strongly welcomes the agreement on the responsibility to protect. We cannot stand by as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing or other gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are committed. The primary responsibility for the protection of populations lies first and foremost with each individual state, as the Outcome Document recognises. However, where the state in question is unable or unwilling to do so, the international community can and should act through a comprehensive range of measures, including collective action through the Security Council, and in extreme cases, and out of necessity, by use of force, authorised by the Security Council. International recognition of this is an important step forward.

V. Strengthening the United Nations

21. The EU considers that management reform and modernisation of the UN Secretariat will create a United Nations better able to fulfil its vital mandate and welcomes the reforms already initiated in this respect by the Secretary-General. In particular this requires greater accountability, transparency, professionalism and efficiency within the UN Secretariat and greater authority for the UN Secretary-General to allocate and redeploy resources within an overall budget and posts ceiling. It also requires a stronger emphasis on the importance of a code of conduct among UN officials. We welcome the agreement on strengthening oversight in the UN and hope for an early decision on the creation of an independent oversight function. We fully endorse the decision to review UN mandates in the course of next year, which should enable us to focus activity and resources on the core priorities of today. We look forward to the Secretary General's further proposals and are committed to working for decisions early in 2006 as called for by our Heads of State and Government.

22. The EU agrees with the Secretary General that we need to consider radical reforms to UN operational activities in order to increase their coherence and effectiveness. We will fully support the work he will be launching in order to achieve the changes necessary. This work must begin as soon as possible.

23. The EU welcomes endorsement at the Summit of the need to reform the main UN bodies, among them the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Security Council, with a view to enhancing the representativeness, transparency and efficiency of the system. The EU will play its part in on-going efforts to improve the effectiveness of the General Assembly and ECOSOC.

VI. Conclusion

24. The UN Summit provides a bold agenda for change. The EU believes that we must now harness the energy and momentum of the Summit to translate this agenda into real action. All UN member states bear a responsibility to make sure that the prize on offer - a United Nations that delivers clear and consistent global goods - does not slip through our hands. The European Union will be glad to play its part.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Implementation of Decisions from 2005 World Summit (16/12/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions - UN World Summit (7/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - 2005 UN World Summit  (4/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - General Debate of 60th Session of UN General Assembly (17/9/2005)
• EU-UN relations (12/9/2005)
• UN World Summit 2005: Commission President Barroso challenges others to match EU's commitments on Development goals  (12/9/2005)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's notes on UN Summit press conference  (12/9/2005)