EU-UN relations
The European commitment towards multilateralism is clearly at the centre of the EU external policies. In 2003 the
Commission adopted a Communication on “EU-UN relations: The choice of multilateralism”, which focused on a comprehensive
strengthening and mainstreaming of EU-UN relations. Effective multilateralism is also one of the central pillars of the
European Security Strategy, adopted in December 2003.
The past years have seen a steady increase of interaction and co-operation between the EU and the UN at all levels. The
EU has had a key role in the elaboration and implementation of new UN instruments such as the Kyoto Protocol and the
International Criminal Court, and has taken an active part in making a success of international conferences such as the
Financing for Development (Monterey 2002) and the World Summit for Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 2002).
The EU has similarly been actively involved in the UN Summit preparations, with the aim of ensuring an ambitious outcome
and intends to remain actively engaged in the follow-up thereto. The Commission has provided substantive contributions
to the definition of EU positions, including through the 15 June Communication of the Commission on ‘The 2005
Summit-Addressing the global challenges and making a success of the reformed UN’ and the three communications on the
‘development package’ adopted on 12 April. The Commission aims to accelerate the process to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals, focus on increasing aid volumes and improve aid effectiveness and policy coherence, with a particular
focus on Africa.
The EU’s commitment to the UN also translates into significant financial support to the UN system. EU Member States
provide around 38% of the UN regular budget and around 50% of all UN Member State’s contributions to UN funds and
programmes. In addition, significant contributions to the UN-system (UN agencies, funds and programmes) are provided by
the European Community (around €874 million in terms of contracts awarded and signed in 2004, outside the scope of the
EC humanitarian assistance where approximately €90 million were provided through cooperation with the UN in 2004).
The long-standing relationship of the EU with the UN encompasses strong Commission support for UN efforts in the areas
of development assistance, food aid and humanitarian assistance. In this regard the Commission presented in 2001 a
Communication on ‘Building an Effective Partnership with the UN in the field of Development and Humanitarian Affairs’.
The Commission has since concluded strategic partnerships in the field of development and humanitarian aid with several
UN agencies, funds and programmes (UNDP, WHO, FAO, ILO, UNHCR) with the aim of further developing policy dialogue and
co-operation. Other agreements/exchanges of letters (ILO, WHO, UNODC, UNEP, UNHCR) have been signed and facilitate
regular policy dialogue and cooperation. Discussions are ongoing about enhanced cooperation between the Commission and
the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
The intensification of the relations between the Commission and the United Nations system has also been enhanced by more
regular high-level dialogue: twice-yearly meetings were initiated in 2001, permitting regular contacts between the UN
Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General and the Commission. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Brussels
twice in 2004, and UN Deputy Secretary General Louise Fréchette last visited in February 2005. The UN Secretary-General
met President Barroso in New York in May and Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner, Michel and Mandelson in June 2005.
Intensified EU-UN cooperation extends also to conflict prevention and crisis management. Examples are the EU Police
Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina which took over from the UN task force, as well as the MONUC take-over from the EU
military operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Further momentum was gained by the signing of the “Joint
Declaration on EU-UN Cooperation in Crisis Management” on 24 September 2003, focussing on practical cooperation in the
field of crisis management and related issues such as planning, training, communication and best practices. An overall
increase in cooperation extends to exchange of information, coordination of activities and priorities as well as an
increase of contacts at all levels, including implementation of conflict prevention and peace building support,
desk-to-desk dialogue on conflict prevention and field level cooperation.