EU at the UN
EU composition at the UN
The UN is an intergovernmental body to which all EU member states belong. In New York, the EU works within the following structure:
- a six-month rotating Presidency held by a member state, which is responsible for appropriate day-to-day EU coordination and speaks for the EU in many areas of UN activity.
- the European Commission contributes to this coordination, especially in areas such as development, environment and humanitarian aid. The Commission represents the European Community in areas of Community competence such as trade, fisheries and agriculture.
- the Liaison Office of the Council Secretariat supports and facilitates EU coordination in New York and connects this activity with the General Secretariat of the Council in Brussels.
EU coordination at the UN
The EU coordinates closely at the UN in the six main committees of the General Assembly and its subordinate bodies, and in ECOSOC and its subordinate functional commissions. The EU has also spoken with one voice in the follow-up to all the major conferences held since the beginning of the 1990s.
EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy
This close coordination has been furthered by establishment of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). CFSP aims, amongst other things, to develop EU common positions intended to preserve peace and international security, promote international co-operation, and develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law. Member states are required to uphold these common EU positions in international organisations and international conferences. As such, within the General Assembly and related fora, the impact of the EU as a whole is greater, reflecting the combined and reinforcing weight of the member states and the EU Institutions.
EU activity at the UN is co-ordinated with meetings and discussions in Brussels.
Security Council
The Treaty on European Union (1997) makes particular provision for those organisations and bodies where only some EU states are members. Members of the UN Security Council which are also members of the EU undertake, under the provisions of Article 19 (pdf) of the TEU, to keep other EU Member States fully informed. Also, member states which are permanent members of the Security Council “will, in the execution of their functions, ensure the defence of the positions and the interests of the Union, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The EU Presidency makes statements on behalf of the European Union when the UN Security Council meets in open session.
Financial contribution
The EU is the biggest aid donor in the world and its participation in official development assistance (ODA) is constantly growing. The EU ODA results exceeded expectations in 2006, amounting to EUR 48 billion, which represents an ODA/GNI (gross national income) ratio of 0.42% and exceeds the target of 0.39% set for 2006. As regards the beneficiaries of the assistance, the Member States of the EU-15 already allocate at least 0.15% of their GNI to the least-developed countries (LDC) or intend to reach this level of assistance by 2010. Almost half the EU aid is intended for Africa. In addition, the EU has decided to allocate over half the aid promised on top of the ODA volumes each year to the continent of Africa.
At the European Council meeting on 16/17 June 2005, member states agreed to commit to 0.56% ODA (as a percentage of Gross National Income) by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015. 50% of this will go to Africa.
At the European Council meeting on 16/17 June 2005, member states agreed to commit to 0.56% ODA (as a percentage of Gross National Income) by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015. 50% of this will go to Africa.
President of European Commission meets UN Secretary General