EU Presidency Statement - Support of UN system to Governments to promote and consolidate democracies

EU Presidency Statement on Agenda Item 10: Support of the UN system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, Sixtieth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, New York

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. 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, EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

The EU is committed to the implementation and promotion world-wide of democratic principles. The EU warmly welcomes the reaffirmation contained in the Outcome Document of the Millennium Review Summit that democracy is a universal value and that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are all interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The promotion and protection of human rights is a prerequisite for the existence of a democratic society while democracy is the best means of ensuring the full realization and implementation of all human rights in the long term. Together, they deliver genuine prosperity, progress and sustainable development. It is for this very reason that the protection and advancement of democracy and the rule of law are among the top priorities for the international community.

The European Union considers that international peace and security can best be served by the spread and consolidation of democracy. A well co-ordinated policy within the framework of the United Nations can help to achieve peaceful solutions to the conflicts that are threatening stability in different areas of the world, and to enable democracy to take root where it has never existed before, or where it has been eliminated by war, dictatorship or the breakdown of civil society. It is equally necessary to shore up democratic institutions in countries in transition and to support democracy in all countries that have recently moved to a democratic system. We share the assessment of the Secretary-General in In Larger Freedom that "the United Nations does more than any other single organization to promote and strengthen democratic institutions and practices around the world." Because of its authority, the EU considers the United Nations the most appropriate international framework within which to work to enhance and promote democracy and human rights throughout the world. In particular, we should like to underline the role played by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her focal point on democracy. The EU welcomes the establishment of the UN Democracy Fund to take forward this vital work. We encourage the Secretary-General and the Fund to take stock of the experiences of the United Nations' and other international and regional organizations' activities in this field and to co-operate closely with them in this task.

Mr. President,

Spreading good governance, supporting social and political reform, dealing with corruption and abuse of power, establishing the rule of law and protecting human rights are the best means of strengthening the international order. Accordingly, the EU is committed to promoting democratization through its own co-operation programmes and in support of the UN. Following the fifth International Conference on New or Restored Democracies, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 10-12 September 2003, the EU noted that the outcome proved there was growing support for strengthening democracy in all the regions of the world - a system of government which is based on the rule of law, which allows free expression of political opinions through electoral and other participatory mechanisms, which guarantees the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the media and the promotion of human security, including the fight against exclusion and poverty. The participants endorsed these democratic principles while acknowledging that there was no one, ideal model for democracy. The EU agrees. That conference also addressed the many challenges to democracy. Among others, these include poverty, international terrorism, transnational economic crime, HIV/AIDS and blatant disregard for human rights. It was agreed that while it is crucial to fight these threats effectively, this must be done without eroding human rights or resorting to repression.

The EU once again thanks Mongolia for successfully hosting the 2003 conference. We look forward to the sixth International Conference that is due to take place in Qatar in November 2006 as an opportunity to consolidate the gains that have been made and to tackling the challenges ahead.

Thank you, Mr. President.


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

| Haut |

• EU Presidency Statement - Summit Outcome Document: Revised Budget Estimates (14/12/2005)
• Speech by Commission Vice-President Wallström - Transnational Democracy: the Road Ahead for Europe? (10/6/2005)