During a UN Security Council meeting on March 12, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasised the importance of increased cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations, as multiple global crises threaten international peace.
“There are moments in history when the darkness of the world is even darker than usual,” said Josep Borrell, calling the United Nations “a ray of light, a sign of hope”.
At the annual meeting on strengthening the EU’s cooperation with the UN, the High Representative mentioned that the regional bloc has shown full solidarity with Ukraine through exceptional economic, financial, and military aid since Moscow unleashed a war of aggression against Ukraine two years ago.
“This strong support, symbolised by our commitment to make Ukraine a member of the European Union, will continue,” he stated. He underlined the EU’s determination to protect itself against the danger the Russian Federation now represents for its security.
Borrell reiterated his condemnation of the October 7 terrorist attacks and stated Israel’s right to self-defence. However, this must include the full respect of international law. With more than 30,000 dead, 1.8 million displaced and 500,000 on the brink of starvation, the very survival of Palestinians is at stake. While the bloc awaits the conclusions of the UN’s independent investigation, he underscored that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) only exists because there are Palestinian refugees.
“We won’t make these refugees disappear by making UNRWA disappear,” he said. “Those refugees are citizens of a Palestinian State that coexists with an Israeli State”. The European Union will do everything possible “not just like the good Samaritan coming in to help those who are suffering”; instead, it will attempt to set up the political mechanisms to avoid the root causes.
The EU’s highly contributes to the UN’s regular budget
Borrell highlighted the European Union’s collaboration with the United Nations, stating that the EU’s financial support to the UN is a testament to their strong support. The EU and its Member States fund almost one-third of the UN’s regular budget and approximately one-quarter of all UN agencies, funds, and programmes. The EU pays their contributions on time, making it the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid and the UN’s most significant financial contributor.
The EU is determined to focus on conflict prevention and has established partnerships with the African Union and regional economic organisations to support African-led peacekeeping operations. In the last three years, the EU has provided almost €1 billion in military support to African partners via the European Peace Facility.
“We have stepped up all over the world as a security provider,” he said, noting that there are currently 24 European Union missions and operations, deploying over 4,300 personnel to contribute to a more stable and safer world.
The recently launched European Union Naval Force’s Aspides operation to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea demonstrates that the bloc is increasingly becoming “a global maritime security provider”, highlighted Borrell.
He further stressed that deploying the Multinational Security Support Mission—to be led by Kenya—to Haiti is urgent to restore security and make any Haitian-led political solution viable. Additionally, the bloc’s contributions represent a third of the total international response in Sudan.
Recognising the EU-UN relationship’s importance
During the discussion, several Council Members emphasised the importance of the partnership between the European Union and the United Nations for conflict prevention, crisis management and peacekeeping. The war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East were significant topics of discussion. Many representatives, including those from Guyana and Algeria, highlighted the critical need for continued support to Gaza through UNRWA.
The United States representative stated that Russian Federation President Vladimir V. Putin‘s aggression against Ukraine has made it more urgent than ever to stand up for the UN Charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US and the European Union are working to mitigate the humanitarian impacts of Moscow’s war.
France’s delegate stated that the European Union and its Member States are mobilised “more than ever” to support Ukraine. The bloc recently paid €50 million to UNRWA and will contribute €82 million in 2024. It also contributes nearly a third of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) staff, whose commitment to de-escalation is critical.
The United Kingdom’s representative highlighted the European Union’s ambition to leverage €150 billion through 2027 for investments in the transport, digital, climate, energy, health, education and research sectors across Africa. He also welcomed the bloc’s contribution to developing safe artificial intelligence (AI) systems, including supporting the landmark Bletchley Declaration, which will deepen international coordination on AI.
The speaker for Malta detailed the European Union’s efforts to maintain peace and security in Africa, including Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean Sea, which continues to contribute to implementing the arms embargo on Libya under resolution 2292 (2016). She urged the Security Council to renew this resolution again in June.
Many recognised the European Union’s contribution to maintaining peace and security in Africa, including long-standing cooperation between the African Union and the European Union, premised on the principle of “African solutions to African problems”. Accordingly, they welcomed resolution 2719 (2023), which opened the door for UN funding for African-led peace missions authorised by the Council.
Finally, the representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea detailed their strategic partnerships with the EU. While Japan joined projects mobilising strategic investments in quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific and Africa, the Republic of Korea and the EU held a summit at which both sides reaffirmed their strong support for multilateralism, the rule of law, democracy, and human rights.
China wants “genuine multilateralism”
China’s delegate called for a “genuine multilateralism” approach rooted in the principles of the UN Charter. He stressed that the security of one State cannot be achieved at the expense of another. He urged the EU to take a more active role in bringing about a political resolution and a balanced security structure in Europe. Additionally, the EU was encouraged to use its influence in Gaza to promote an immediate ceasefire and work towards a two-state solution.
Russia sees the EU as an aggressive bloc
The representative of the Russian Federation claimed that the European project, which was originally created to help rebuild Europe after the Second World War, has changed its nature entirely. The European bloc is now subordinating itself to the United States and NATO’s goals and prioritising political interests over economic ones. He also stressed that Moscow has never acted aggressively against the European Union.
The Russian representative further argued that while it is acknowledged that the conflict in Gaza would end if weapon deliveries were stopped, the same logic is not applied to Ukraine. He warned that any attempts to form a united anti-Russian bloc would end badly for Europe.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell, re-taking the floor at the end of the meeting to respond, asked: “The country that has launched the greatest military aggression in our times sees the European Union as an aggressive bloc?”
The EU supports Ukraine because it believes it has the right to exist, he insisted, adding that the war must end in a way that respects the principles of the UN Charter.
