The UN and the EU: Joining Forces for the Challenges

of the 21st Century

Remarks by Dimitrij Rupel

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, President of the Council of the EU

April 25, 2008

Mr. Secretary General,

Madam Minister,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

  1. We are supposed to discuss and, possibly, to strengthen the relations between the United Nations and the European Union. Actually, we should say, relations between the European Union and the rest of United Nations. European Union is a union of nations, one day it be could called united european nations. The EU represents almost one seventh of the entire United Nations membership. Two of our member states hold permanent seats in the UN Security Council. As a group, we are the largest financial contributor to the UN budget and a significant contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations. The EU and the UN share common basic values that are enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  1. Still, the proximity of the two organizations is not always perceived as an unquestionable blessing in all quarters. Some observers correctly point out that the UN as we know it today, is in many ways a product of the political realities produced by WW II. They correctly argue that the international situation has changed a lot since the end of WW II, and that an appropriate expression of this change was necessary and overdue also in the UN.

Some European observers may remark that the EU itself has progressed beyond the delicate balances produced before 1989. Some enthusiasts may add that one representative of the EU should represent the EU on the Security Council. I happen to see some advantages in the tradition that persists in the UN. The generous and dominating presence of the Allies of the WW II at the helm of the UN is reassuring as far as the political and especially human rights standards are concerned. I am rather alarmed by occasional expression of simple majority rule mentality and corresponding procedures in the UN system.

  1. In some UN activities and operations (concerning for example climate change or development cooperation), the EU has assumed leadership. The EU provides 57 % of global Official Development Assistance (ODA), amounting to € 93 per EU citizen. The European Commission per se is the second largest donor in the OECD Development Assistance Committee, with € 8.6 billion in 2007.

Through development aid contribution, we pursue our most important goal - eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. In this respect, recent worldwide increase in food prices presents an additional challenge for the EU.

  1. Climate change represents another area where the EU’s and UN’s goals coincide. Furthermore, the EU has already established a leading position by adopting an ambitious energy and climate package. Spring 2007 European Council endorsed an EU objective of a 30 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990, provided that other countries also accept comparable obligations. This represents a concrete contribution of the EU to a global and comprehensive agreement to be reached for the period beyond 2012.

5.) At the March European Council, the Slovenian Presidency confirmed and elaborated the commitments on climate change and energy securitymade during the German EU Presidency in 2007.

6.) The EU and the UN share responsibility regarding the peace-keeping missions around the globe. This common effort goes hand in hand with the process of building the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Today, three ESDP missions are active in Western Balkans:

  • One military mission – ALTHEA EUFOR in BiH with 2241 participants,
  • Two civilian missions - EUPOL BiH with 194 participants, and EULEX Kosovo, which will have around 1900 participants.
  • EU is active in Afghanistan with the EUPOL mission with 110 participants.
  • Three EU civilian missions are active in the Middle East: EU Police mission in the PalestineTerritories (EUPOL COPPS), EU Border assistance mission at Rafah crossing point at the Palestinian territories (EU Bam Rafah) and EU Integrated rule of law mission in Iraq (EUJust Lex).
  • Since July 2005 we trained more than 1450 Iraqi senior criminal justice officials.
  • EU has three civilian (one in Guinea-Bissau, two in DR Congo) and one military mission (in Chad) in Africa.
  • EUFOR Chad/RCA was launched on 28 January 2008 and will include around 3700 troops. It is the most multinational military operation conducted in Africa by the EU so far.

7. Regardless of the fact that the EU is a busy global player, some problems in its immediate neighborhood remain to be resolved. Among the most prominent challenges are Serbian-Kosovar relations and management of the independence of Kosovo. Concerns have been expressed on how to reconcile the UNSC Resolution 1244 with the declaration of independence, and regarding the legal aspects of the reconfiguration of the international presence in Kosovo.

8.) It has been suggested that UNMIK should stay on for a certain time, while EULEX would be incorporated into the former. The introduction of EULEX could perhaps be interpreted as an extension or strengthening of the existing European pillar of UNMIK.

9.) Another challenge is the entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution. In that context, we need to manage the expectations of the Kosovo majority population. UNMIK and the EU should be able to engage in the discussion on reconfiguration and transformation of the international presence in Kosovo. Our commitment for the EU mission, the EULEX is closely linked to the credibility of the European Union and its CFSP.

10.) I guess that the EU should pay close attention to the future reconfiguration of the international presence in Kosovo. Our efforts to that end in the next months should be inspired by some principles:

  • We should not tolerate violence or presence of parallel security structures.
  • A presence of the international community throughout Kosovo should be continued in line with the UNSCR 1244. No security or rule of law gap should be allowed.
  • The build-up of EULEX and ICO/EUSR should continue.
  • Temporary division of labour between different actors of international presence could be contemplated, but it should not imply partition. Issues of co-ordination and logistics, as well as the need for a single legal framework need to be addressed. Clarity is very important. Dialogue between all stakeholders is needed on these issues, involving UNMIK, Priština, Kosovo Serbs, EULEX, Brussels and Belgrade.
  • The European character of the international presence should be emphasised, since Kosovo is a European issue in the first place.
  • All actors of international presence need now to prepare for possible developments and implications for reconfiguration after the entry into force of the new Kosovo Constitution.
  • The EU has agreed to leave the decision on recognition of Kosovo to the discretion of Member States. Nevertheless, recognitions have contributed to stability in Kosovo and consistence of the policy of the EU. In that context we should not forget about the important role played by the International Steering Group.

Dear Secretary General, Madam Minister, Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen

These considerations should be regarded in the context of the conviction that the EU is a part, may be one of the best parts of the UN.

Thank you.

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