68th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Recommendation to the Council

The European Parliament recommendation to the Council with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly was deemed adopted without vote.

The recommendation recalls that the UN is at the centre of global governance. A solid and stable EU-UN partnership underpins and contributes to the work of the UN under all three pillars – peace and security, human rights and development. The EU must meet its responsibility to play a part in devising joint approaches to global challenges. However, the fragmentation of global policy-making, combined with a proliferation of international and transnational forums, is creating new complexities in international relations.

In this regard, Parliament addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

The EU as a global actor: Parliament states that it is necessary to ensure continuously the coherence and visibility of the EU as a global actor at the UN. There is also a need to strengthen the ability of the EU to act in a coordinated, swift and comprehensive manner in the global arena.

The EU and global governance: Parliament calls for enhanced cooperation with partners in making the UN a more effective and cohesive organisation for the 21st century. It encourages a comprehensive and consensual reform of the United Nations Security Council and awaits a concrete proposal on how to achieve, as a central, long-term goal of the EU, a common EU seat in an enlarged UNSC. Once again, Members call for a common position of the EU Member States to that end.

Peace and security: Parliament suggests incorporating a peace-building perspective into peacekeeping operations and enhancing closer coordination between peacekeeping operations and UN Country Teams and development actors. Cooperation is also needed with other regional organisations such as NATO, OSCE, ASEAN, CELAC, Arab League, etc. in preventing conflicts and in post-conflict countries. Overall, Members recommend working towards establishing the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) as a new norm of international law, in compliance with international humanitarian law and as a follow-up on proposals presented by Parliament in its recommendation to the Council on the UN principle of the R2P. They demand of all parties, whether state and non-state actors directly or indirectly involved in armed conflict, that they fully respect their obligations under international law.

Members recommend cooperation with multilateral and bilateral partners towards adding more robust and effective pressure in order to put an immediate end to the violation of human rights and violence in Syria. They call on the US, Turkey and the League of Arab States to put pressure on the Syrian government and all those involved in the crisis. Swift provision of cross-border humanitarian assistance, basic public services as well as full access for humanitarian organisations is needed urgently.

Parliament calls for further efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Mali and to foster a democratic transition by consolidating the institutions of transition, promoting – inter alia through mediation – inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation.

Human rights, democracy and the rule of law: the recommendation calls for strengthened international efforts aimed at ensuring that all human rights agreed under UN conventions are considered universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that their respect is being enforced. They oppose attempts to undermine humanitarian law in the fight against terrorism and call for the mainstreaming of human rights, including digital freedoms, and basic freedoms in all aspects of the UN’s work.

Parliament makes a list of human rights to be respected and highlight in particular the freedom of the press and media worldwide, respect for the International Criminal Court, the fight against corruption and respect for civil society.

Sustainable development: once again, Members call for enhanced policy coherence as regards development and for determined efforts to combat poverty. Specific recommendations are made to combat the recurring food crises in the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa. The recommendations also seek to: (i) honour the international undertaking of the EU and the Member States to earmark 0.7% of GDP for development aid; (ii) promote universal access to water and affordable and sustainable energy services; (iii) work towards an ambitious post-2015 MDG Agenda.

Lastly, Parliament calls for the promotion of interaction on global issues between governments and parliaments and for enhanced follow up to the recommendations adopted by Parliament, including by inviting the European External Action Service to report back to it every year on the outcome of the General Assembly.