S/2020/489 Security Council

I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the briefing provided by Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, as well as the statements delivered by the representatives of Belgium, China, France, Germany, the Niger (on behalf of the three African countries that are members of the Security Council — the Niger, South Africa and Tunisia — as well as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, in connection with the video-teleconference on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security convened on Thursday, 28 May 2020. In accordance with the procedure set out in the letter by the President of the Security Council addressed to Permanent Representatives of Security Council members dated 7 May 2020 (S/2020/372), which was agreed in the light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic, the enclosed briefing and statements will be issued as an official document of the Security Council.

It is an honour to brief the Security Council on cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. I congratulate Estonia on its presidency of the Council. The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a test of our humanity, but also of the multilateral system itself. This crisis demonstrates that global challenges require collective action. COVID-19 and climate change are not problems that any one country alone can solve. The rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core, must therefore be upheld and strengthened. There is no other option. The pandemic is shaking the very foundation of our societies and exposing the vulnerabilities of the most fragile countries. It risks unravelling progress in recent years towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and pushing millions back into poverty. In addition, the pandemic can exacerbate existing conflicts and generate new geopolitical tensions. That is why the European Union was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. We regret that only a few countries — two out of 43, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project report — have seen a reduction in violence. We also support the appeal by High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet to ensure that sanctions do not hinder humanitarian aid, as is currently the case for the EU. At a time of global crisis, we need a Council that can make critical decisions, not one that is paralysed by vetoes and political infighting. The EU is doing what it takes to combat the coronavirus crisis. We know our battle at home can succeed only if we defeat the virus around the world. That is why the EU, its member States and European financial institutions pooled resources to fund a €23 billion Team Europe package to support partner countries and the most vulnerable. We fully agree with Secretary-General Guterres that socioeconomic recovery packages must aim to build back better by investing in sustainable and resilient societies. In these troubled times, emergency measures are necessary, but they must be proportionate, temporary and in compliance with the rule of law and international obligations. Respect for human rights remains essential, especially for the most vulnerable. Even as others back away, the EU remains a staunch supporter of a strong United Nations as the beating heart of the multilateral system. Secretary-General Guterres is right to say that multilateralism is under threat precisely when we need it most. We therefore support his efforts to advance the United Nations reform process and to use the Organization’s seventy-fifth anniversary to work for a rejuvenated United Nations. At a time of growing scepticism, we must demonstrate the Organization’s added value and relevance. This is why the EU and its member States support United Nations reform and are the largest financial contributors to the United Nations system. We pay our dues in full and on time. In the area of peace and security, the EU is also a generous, reliable partner. All 17 EU crisis management missions and operations cooperate closely with members of the United Nations family. Indeed, 11 of those EU missions and operations are located in the same area as a United Nations mission. In some cases we even share barracks and camps. We know that women play a crucial role in securing peace and security, and we need to promote their role and contribution. That was the central reason for the adoption, 20 years ago, of groundbreaking resolution 1325 (2000). We have made progress since, but much work remains to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. Let us therefore pursue this agenda with determination. Africa is our sister continent and a major strategic priority for the EU. From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, from the Central African Republic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union is actively backing political processes, providing financial support and contributing to peacebuilding, stabilization and development. In that regard, we have but one motto: African solutions to African problems. We work very closely with the African Union (AU), including Mr. Smaїl Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security. Nevertheless, we cannot do all the work for our partners. Instead, we are supporting their efforts. Today I would like to focus on the Sahel. It is a test case, with all the elements of the modern foreign policy agenda at play. Security, extremism and terrorism, governance, sustainable development, migration and climate change are all driving the conflict dynamics and explain why we need an integrated approach. Since 2014, the EU and its member States have provided massive financial support — a total of €8,5 billion — to the Sahel region. The EU recently broadened the scope of its work and has three missions deployed to help develop the capacities of the military and security forces of the region. But the hard truth is that the situation in the Sahel keeps deteriorating at an alarming pace. A total of 4,000 lives were lost to terrorist attacks this year alone, there are 800,000 displaced persons in Burkina Faso — seven times more than in February 2019 — and around 50 million people are at risk of food insecurity due to terrorism and COVID-19. We must therefore be ready to do more and better, which is what we — together with the Group of Five for the Sahel and the AU — are doing. The same is true with regard to the Horn of Africa, where EU cooperation with the AU and the United Nations is also crucial. Our analysis of the situation is the same. Our commitment to work jointly is strong. Together with our partners, we must stay the course. Libya is a major crisis right on the European Union’s doorstep. We have seen the absurd situation of fighters wearing masks to protect themselves against COVID-19 while exchanging fire. The EU is working hard to create conditions for a ceasefire; it is not easy and there are many agendas at play. There is no alternative to an inclusive political solution. But in order to find a political solution, we need to stop the flows of weapons into Libya and create a space for real dialogue. With that objective in mind, we have launched the new European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI. Its core task is to implement the United Nations arms embargo through naval, aerial and satellite assets. Operation IRINI builds on the achievements of Operation Sophia, which so far has been the only operation actively implementing the United Nations arms embargo and reporting back to the Organization. Although it began its sea activities only a few weeks ago, Operation IRINI has already proven its added value by sharing valuable information with the Panel of Experts on Libya established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) and by serving as a deterrent for oil smuggling. It is critical that the Council renew the resolution authorizing inspections on the high seas. We know that the broader Middle East has a major impact on European and global security. We need to adopt an approach that addresses individual conflicts and crises, including Yemen and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where unilateral action could threaten the stability of the entire region and where the EU remains ready to work with both parties and its partners on a solution based on internationally recognized parameters. We must also recognize the interconnected nature of the region’s conflict dynamics. To that end, we must continue long-term efforts to achieve a genuine regional, cooperative security framework. In Syria, the situation in Idlib remains fragile. The ceasefire must continue to hold and must extend all across Syria, in line with Special Envoy Pedersen’s appeal. It is imperative that the Council renew the authorization of cross-border humanitarian operations and deliveries into north-west Syria. I appeal to the Council to not play political games with the lives of the Syrian people. Have they not suffered enough? The fourth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, to be held on 29 and 30 June, will be an opportunity to show our continued support to the Syrian people. The humanitarian needs are enormous. We must therefore maintain the same pledge level as that of previous years. The conference will also aim to consolidate international backing for a political solution to the crisis that is in keeping with resolution 2254 (2015). Let me reiterate the enduring importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran. It remains essential to ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. This is why I regret yesterday’s decision by the United States to not prolong the waivers for the JCPOA-related nuclear projects. Finally, I will touch upon Europe itself, including the Western Balkans. Our overall goal is to see the whole region advance on the path of reform, reconciliation and integration into the EU. I recently appointed Miroslav Lajčák as EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, which remains one of my top priorities. Staying on the topic of Europe, I would like to mention Ukraine, where Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the unfulfilled Minsk commitments have resulted in a major disruption in EU-Russia relations. Respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries remains a key elements of the EU’s relationship with its Eastern partners. The principles enshrined in Helsinki cannot be forgotten if we are to achieve a cooperative, more secure and cohesive European continent. I now turn to Venezuela, nestled in a continent close to my heart. There, the political crisis, compounded by measures related to COVID-19, has turned into a catastrophic economic and humanitarian emergency, affecting the stability of the whole region. Earlier this week, we mobilized €2.5 billion, with €595 million in grants at a pledging event hosted by the EU and Spain to step up emergency assistance, including to the displaced population in the region. Finally, turning to very recent developments, I must express deep concern about steps taken by China with regard to national security legislation in Hong Kong. Such actions are not in keeping with international commitments or the basic laws of Hong Kong. There are many other specific situations I could mention. But allow me instead to close with some broader, more strategic reflections. The COVID-19 crisis has laid bare the fragility of a hyperglobalized and interdependent world. We must learn the broader lessons and truly understand the link between human and planetary health, and how existing inequalities are making us more vulnerable. If we want to build back better, we must recommit to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The EU is doing its part, and we count on others to also meet their obligations. We also know that climate change is affecting global security by acting as a threat multiplier. That is why we fully support Germany’s efforts to put the climate and security nexus on the Council’s agenda. My main message today is that the EU remains deeply attached to the rules- based international order, to multilateralism and to the United Nations. We support the United Nations, not only through words — although they do matter — but through concrete actions and contributions across the three pillars of the United Nations, especially peace and security. We believe in multilateralism, which is precisely why we want the Security Council to be able to act. All States should uphold the founding values of the United Nations, starting with those bearing the special responsibilities of Council membership. Multilateralism must deliver results for the people who need it most. Otherwise, it loses legitimacy while unilateralism and power politics gain the upper hand. The world needs a revitalized multilateral system. But that will happen only if we all invest in it, as the EU is doing. We count on those who sit on the Council to do their part.

Belgium welcomes this discussion in the Council on United Nations and European Union (EU) cooperation. I would like to thank EU High Representative Borrell for his excellent statement. The EU and the United Nations share a goal of achieving an international rules-based order with democracy, the rule of law and human rights at its core. They are therefore natural partners in the search for sustainable solutions to global challenges. Let me highlight some examples of how the United Nations and the EU have joined forces to achieve lasting impact worldwide. Turning first to the coronavirus pandemic, the EU launched Team Europe with a financial package of more than €20 billion to help partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus. The EU also strongly supports the Secretary-General’s appeal for an immediate global ceasefire. With regard to Syria, a conflict that remains high on the Council’s agenda, the EU is the largest donor of humanitarian aid. In that respect, I am pleased to confirm that next month we will host the fourth Brussels donor conference on Syria. We underline that it is critical to find a political solution that is fully in keeping with resolution 2254 (2015). Turning to Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action constitutes a significant and unique achievement of sustained multilateral diplomacy. It is a cornerstone of the global non-proliferation architecture and an example of cooperation between the EU and the United Nations. We stress the importance of keeping this vital agreement in place through direct dialogue. We also regret the recent announcement by the United States of America that nuclear-related waivers will not be renewed. The launch of the new European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI is the EU’s latest contribution to the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. In the Sahel, the EU has a vibrant partnership with the Group of Five for the Sahel. I would like to flag the unique and innovative arrangement in which the EU reimburses actions performed by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in support of the Joint Force, even if it is a small part of the vast support the EU is giving to the region. Furthermore, the European Union capacity-building and training missions in the Niger and Mali have been expanded to reach the entire region in order to train security forces and support the national security sector reform agendas. I would like to underline the role being played by the EU-led Operation Althea for the provision of a secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the contribution of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo to the rule of law there. Respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, including the protection of children, is an important cornerstone of the partnership between the United Nations and the EU. Currently, it is more crucial than ever for warring parties to comply with international humanitarian law and guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. I would also like to highlight the importance of upholding the women and peace and security agenda, in particular with regard to the meaningful participation of women in peace operations at all levels and in all areas of expertise. The importance the EU and its member States attach to multilateral cooperation and the United Nations is reflected by their financial backing: they are the single- largest contributor to the United Nations system, making up around 30 per cent of the peacekeeping budget. The EU is also the largest donor in terms of development and humanitarian assistance. In addition, in collaboration with the United Nations, the EU is pioneering the fight against climate change. Next to its own mitigation efforts, the EU is the largest provider of international climate financing. Looking ahead, it is important to pursue further partnerships, such as with the African Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Hopefully, the long-standing collaboration among the EU, the United Nations and the African Union can be further expanded in future.

The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest regional integration organization and an important partner of the United Nations and its Security Council. China welcomes the efforts made by the European Union in maintaining international peace and security. As the world of today is undergoing profound changes, it is faced with growing uncertainties and challenges. China supports the United Nations and its Security Council in deepening their cooperation with the EU, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. Against this backdrop, the United Nations and the EU should work closer on the following areas. First, they should deepen their collaboration in order to firmly uphold multilateralism. Multilateralism is a collective choice made by humankind to avoid the cost of a world war. The founding and development of the United Nations and the EU are examples of multilateralism. As unilateralism and populism are on the rise, the United Nations and the EU need to jointly uphold multilateralism and build a community of shared future, through promoting mutual trust, shouldering responsibilities, ensuring equality and seeking win-win cooperation. Secondly, the United Nations and the EU should work for a more secure global environment. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic proves once again that all countries are connected and interdependent. Facing every sort of complex and severe risk and challenge, no country can stand alone. The United Nations and the EU need to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and jointly promote global security governance in order to achieve common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We must stick to the peaceful settlement of disputes through such diplomatic means as dialogue, consultation, good offices and mediation, and we must respect the sovereign equality of all countries and their right to independently choose their development paths. Thirdly, the United Nations and the EU should actively promote sustainable development. With its advanced economic development, the EU can work with the United Nations to provide greater financial and technical support to developing countries based on their needs, help them achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, eliminate the root causes of conflicts and achieve sustained peace through sustainable development. China has always attached great importance to its relations with the EU. We support the European integration process and are happy to see a united, stable and prosperous Europe. This year marks the forty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. We are ready to further deepen mutual trust with the EU, enhance cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral forums and jointly make new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity. COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll both in China and many European countries. Our European friends reached out to us with a helping hand, and we returned the favour with medical and technical assistance as early as we could. We are ready to work with the EU in fighting this battle together, and are firmly supporting the United Nations and World Health Organization in playing a leading role. We will join hands with European countries to continue to provide greater assistance to regions and countries in need.

Let me first thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, for his briefing. The European Union (EU) and the United Nations share the same conviction that cooperation among nations is the only possible way to meet common challenges. Over almost 70 years of shared history, this conviction has been translated into a multitude of concrete forms of cooperation and action. With the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the world today is facing an unprecedented challenge. The European Union has already demonstrated its solidarity with the rest of the world in its mobilization against the virus. France advocated strongly that sub-Saharan Africa should be viewed as a priority region in the European response. More than ever, we are convinced of our common obligation to, and interest in, coordinating our actions under the leadership of the United Nations. In this regard, the European Union has given clear support to the Secretary-General’s call for a comprehensive ceasefire. Accordingly, France once again calls on all Security Council members to live up to their responsibilities and adopt a resolution establishing a cessation of hostilities and a humanitarian pause for all the situations on the Council’s agenda. Furthermore, the EU initiative of establishing a humanitarian air bridge contributes to the United Nations efforts aimed at ensuring humanitarian access to the most vulnerable countries, and it includes a strong focus on Africa. I want to stress very clearly that European Union sanctions do not impede the fight against the pandemic, as they include humanitarian derogations that allow for aid delivery. In many crises, the European Union and the United Nations have demonstrated the complementarity of their tools. Collectively, the EU is the leading financial contributor to the United Nations. It is also the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, while acting in close coordination with the United Nations. EU member States are supporting peacekeeping operations in the context of the pandemic. In the Sahel, the sharing of responsibilities between the EU, which trains the local armies and local police, and the United Nations, which has a key role in the peace process and protection of civilians, is a good one. The EU and the United Nations also provide support to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. In addition, EU member States have provided more than 1,000 peacekeepers to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. Moreover, with regard to many other African crises, the trilateral cooperation among the EU, the United Nations and the African Union is now a key instrument for the prevention and resolution of conflicts and for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I also wish to highlight the role that the EU is playing in the development and implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with respect to Iran, which represents a key achievement of multilateral diplomacy. In that regard, I would also like to echo the regret expressed by Mr. Borrell about the decision of the United States not to renew the waivers for key JCPOA-related nuclear projects. The JCPOA serves the non-proliferation interests of everyone and remains the best way to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities. This is why we and the remaining participants in the JCPOA will continue to work towards its preservation and full implementation. In Syria, the EU is supporting the Syrian people through humanitarian aid and stands ready to contribute to the funding of the reconstruction when a credible political solution based on resolution 2254 (2015) is firmly under way. With regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the EU has voiced its strong attachment to the internationally agreed parameters of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. Annexation of parts of the West Bank by the Israeli authorities would be a violation of international law; it would also not be without consequences for the relationship between the EU and its member States and Israel. With a view to resolving the conflict in Libya, the European Union has decided to deploy the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI , which will notably monitor the violations of the arms embargo on the high seas and therefore be the main contributor to the implementation of resolution 2292 (2016). In the Western Balkans, the European Union is playing a leading role in facilitating dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and is deriving benefits from the stabilization groundwork carried out by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. The European Union and the United Nations are also joining forces to provide responses to global challenges. In the area of climate change, the EU and the United Nations are working together to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and will continue to raise their ambitions ahead of the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. With regard to biodiversity, the EU is one of the most ambitious players in the field, calling for support of the United Nations in the preservation of marine wildlife and resources. With regard to health, the EU is strongly committed to supporting a global and effective response to the COVID-19 crisis and other potential crises to come. Within the framework of the World Health Organization, the EU will push for a renovated and more efficient multilateral health system. The synergies between the EU and the United Nations in promoting and protecting universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential. The EU fully supports the action of the Secretary-General and all relevant United Nations agencies in this regard. The EU and its member States will continue to promote the highest standards when it comes to human rights across the United Nations system, including in the Security Council. When it comes to gender equality and women’s rights, we will continue to support the Secretary-General’s call to “push back against the pushback”. The EU and the United Nations share common values and promote the same agenda for all the foregoing highly critical global challenges. It is in our mutual interest that we cooperate more closely for the benefit of the entire international community. In this regard, France supports greater interaction between the EU and the United Nations and a stronger presence of the EU within the United Nations system. The members of the European Union are not only the largest contributors to the United Nations budget and firm supporters of the modernization efforts that have been initiated, but together with the EU, EU member States are working concretely in conjunction with the Organization in all areas of crisis to facilitate political dialogue, maintain and build peace, and assist civilian populations. In this way, we are contributing to building a strong and living multilateralism, which is the only way to establish a stable and secure international order.

I welcome Mr. Josep Borrell to the Security Council. To see him in the Council triggers a bit of emotion for me because I had the pleasure of working for his first predecessor, his countryman Javier Solana, between 1999 and 2005, as the head of the policy unit. It was wonderful to work for the European Union (EU). Let me say that I subscribe to everything that Mr. Borrell said in his briefing. In his statement, José Singer Weisinger, Special Envoy to the Security Council of the Dominican Republic, mentioned the Schuman Declaration, which was one of the key moments of European unification after the Second World War. To see where we stand today in Europe, 75 years after the Second World War, we have to go back to 1870. In the 75 years between 1870 and 1945, there were three major wars in Europe, two of which were world wars. The time since 1945 has been the most peaceful period in European history. The European Union is therefore a truly historic achievement. The European Union was made strong by the rule of law and the strength of the rule of law, not by the law of the strongest. Conflicts in Europe are resolved peacefully at the European Court of Justice. This is how we want the United Nations also to succeed. We are deeply convinced that the United Nations can achieve the same results. What that means is that we actually do our job in the Security Council to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and through respect for the rule of law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and resolutions by the Security Council, which, according to the Charter, are legally binding. It also means that we must respect the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and that we respect human rights. Unfortunately, we have not yet fully achieved those goals, and we are in fact in a very critical phase. Speakers before me mentioned that point. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in violation of the sovereignty of an independent country violates the United Nations Charter and shows that the law of the strongest is still sometimes operative. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have seen a great deal of disrespect for Security Council resolutions, particularly with regard to the Middle East and Libya. As we discussed yesterday, countries flagrantly supply weapons and mercenaries to Libya in violation of binding international law buttressed by Security Council resolutions. Let me now turn to one of the masterpieces of European diplomacy: the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on nuclear proliferation. We greatly regret that the United States has left the JCPOA. Furthermore, I would echo what Mr. Borrell said with respect to regretting the non-renewal of the waivers for JCPOA-related nuclear projects. Since the United States left the JCPOA, the region has not become safer and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is not being more closely observed. Violations of human rights and the rights of minorities persist. The freedom of assembly and expression are being violated. Similarly, when we look at Hong Kong, we see that the freedom of assembly, the freedom of expression and the right to a democratic debate as guaranteed in the Basic Law are now being put under pressure. We regret this. Let me echo those who have discussed the participation of women: resolution 1325 (2000) still is not implemented. The EU is very interested in the United Nations and wants to strengthen multilateralism and work together with other regional organizations. The European Union and its member States are the strongest, largest and biggest supporters of the United Nations when it comes to financial contributions. In the wake of coronavirus disease, the biggest part of the socioeconomic package has been provided by the European Union and its member States. The close cooperation between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was also mentioned, and I would like to refer to what our colleague from the Niger, speaking for the three African members and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said about the cooperation between the EU and the African Union. The EU continues to be a very strong supporter, with three missions to support the Group of Five for the Sahel. Let me end by recalling what was said with regard to how we achieve peace and security in the Sahel region. It is a matter of good governance, respect for human rights and democracy. That is essential for peace and development. So, dear colleagues, let us not use the Security Council for propaganda. Let us use the Security Council to implement what is in the Charter and to work for the common good.

I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Council, namely, South Africa, Tunisia and the Niger, and of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Allow me first of all to thank Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for his comprehensive and informative briefing. Cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union in the area of the maintenance of international peace and security, as envisaged in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, has for several years now been of great relevance. Many modern threats to international peace and security, such as terrorism, mass population displacement, climate change and health crises, such as the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, cannot be solved by individual States but require collective action by the international community. In response to those challenges, regional and subregional organizations play a crucial role in United Nations efforts to ensure the collective security and development of Member States by promoting better intergovernmental coordination. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic the world is experiencing, which is undermining the global health system and our common efforts to maintain international peace and security, is proof of the relevance and necessity of multilateralism and cooperation, not only among international organizations but also between them and their member States. The value of collective action and solidarity have emerged as the only way to deal with the pandemic and its irreversible impact on socioeconomic sectors. In Africa, that partnership manifests itself in the field of conflict resolution, in political, technical and financial support and in European Union field missions wherever a peace process or a peace and security operation is under way. Thus, in Mali and the Sahel region, it supports the objectives and missions of the United Nations, as defined in the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, through the action carried out by its training mission in Mali, in coordination with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. In Libya, the European Union is working closely with the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the African Union to help Libyan actors make real progress towards reconciliation through national dialogue and elections. We hope to see the new European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI contribute to the fight against violations of the arms embargo on Libya and against the smuggling of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. We also see the operational advantages for the African Union to play a more active role in peace operations in a number of contexts, such as the African Union Military Observer Mission and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. To that end, the three African members of the Council and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines fully support the use of United Nations assessed contributions for African Union peace support operations authorized by the Security Council. In the Middle East, the European Union is firmly committed to comprehensive peace and sustainable justice. Its essential contribution to the struggle and defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria and to the Israeli- Palestinian peace process are worth mentioning. Cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union also covers other areas of mutual interest. South Africa, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Niger recognize and support the role of both organizations in strengthening the work of the United Nations in support of development cooperation and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We also reaffirm our support for the European Union’s actions to protect civilians in armed conflict, including its initiatives to protect women and children affected by armed conflict, its commitment to the prevention and protection of victims of sexual violence and its support for the crucial role played by women in all peace and security initiatives, in particular those aimed at preventing, resolving and mitigating the impact of conflict. The same applies to the partnership in the areas of justice, the rule of law and respect for international law, which are essential to promote the maintenance of peace, stability and development. Since the European Union-African Union summit in Abidjan, a new approach has been adopted that allows the two organizations to jointly define their priorities. It is from that innovative approach that the United Nations-African-Union-European Union trilateral group has emerged to address the dramatic situation of African migrants in detention centres in Libya. Regional organizations, such as the European Union, as well as the African Union, the Arab League, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to name but a few, serve as bridges linking global responses to the local contextual realities facing our regions. Regional and subregional organizations are also the surest avenues for building national capacities within States that meet international standards and obligations while respecting cultures and realities on the ground. We are all witnessing the benefits of the African Union’s operational guidance and policy frameworks in areas such as security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and transitional justice programmes, which are essential to building and maintaining peace. The three African members and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines commend the United Nations and the European Union for their continued support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action at a time when the integrity of the agreement is under threat. The European Union’s role in the Iranian nuclear issue is a clear demonstration of strong commitment to collective security based on a solid multilateral architecture for non-proliferation and disarmament. In conclusion, the three African members and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines strongly believe that, if we are to achieve a more peaceful and prosperous world for all countries and peoples, the United Nations must explore new partnerships with regional bodies, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and deepen existing partnerships with the European Union, the African Union, CARICOM and ASEAN.

We welcome the participation in the discussion with the Security Council of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, and took note of his remarks. We completely concur with the task of strengthening multilateralism in international affairs promoted by our European Union (EU) partners. We are convinced that true multilateralism can succeed only with a central role for the United Nations and through clear support for the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We believe that there should be no ambiguity about that, and therefore make a clear distinction between international law and the so-called rules- based order promoted by many EU countries, which can be easily tweaked or even hijacked by a closed circle of like-minded States to serve their collective interests and not those of the international community as a whole. We hope that we are on the same page with our EU partners when we discuss multilateralism. The EU continues to be an important international actor that is very visible from political and economic perspectives alike. That implies huge responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Even after Brexit, the EU is well represented in the Security Council and has all the necessary tools and means to influence the international agenda. We continue to count on our European colleagues to address together the challenges of our times, from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to the peaceful resolution of various conflict situations in the world. We all expect the EU to be an unbiased player, ready to help and facilitate, and not to impose its agenda or conditions on those countries and regions that need its help. We hope that our European partners will adhere to such an approach, permitting us to work together in different country situations. The Russian Federation has always advocated for developing and improving cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in line with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. During our presidency of the Security Council in September 2019, we initiated a discussion on cooperation between the United Nations, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (see S/PV.8626). Cooperation with them, as well as with the European Union and other regional organizations, should be balanced and based upon the United Nations Charter. One of the main priorities for such cooperation is collective response to transborder crimes, first and foremost in the sphere of counter-terrorism. Russia is ready to promote such cooperation. I would stress specifically the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which we are waging together, individually and in coordination with United Nations partners and structures, first and foremost the World Health Organization. That being said, we regret to see that the EU still applies multiple restrictive and coercive mechanisms. We repeatedly heard assurances from Brussels and other European capitals that those mechanisms were targeted and carefully calibrated. However, practice has proved the opposite: in reality, the application of such measures considerably undermines the socioeconomic situation in the affected developing countries, thus seriously reducing the living standards of innocent people. The relevant appeal of the Secretary-General, issued at the beginning of the pandemic, is a good signal to that end. We call on the EU to reverse its policies on sanctions, reach out to the population of the countries in question and refrain from punitive and coercive measures adopted beyond and outside the scope of the Security Council. The EU is expected to play a stabilizing role in the wider Europe, from the Balkans and the Mediterranean to its eastern periphery. To live up to those expectations, the EU should adhere to the principles of international law and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbours. We regret to recall that it was the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme that led to widened divides in Europe, triggered and detonated the so-called Maidan Revolution in Kyiv and led to ongoing civil conflict in Ukraine. We expect Brussels not to cheapen European values and principles when dealing with flagrant violations of the rights of the Russian- speaking population in Ukraine and some Member States, namely the Baltic States, who continue to face discrimination and abuses. We also urge the EU not to turn a blind eye to the rise of nationalism, far right and neo-Nazi movements in Ukraine, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. Today we heard appeals for dialogue from some EU members. But when it comes to frank dialogue and to taking our concerns on board, somehow that does not materialize. We took note of the EU decision to launch the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI with the declared aim of supporting the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. We expect the Operation to fully comply with international law, resolution 2292 (2016) and its operational zone covering the length of the Libyan coast. Any imbalance on such a delicate issue could undermine international efforts to establish dialogue between the opposing Libyan parties. Brussels should not be avoiding contact with any of the parties to the conflict either. We will have to take all those factors into account when the time comes in June to take a decision on extending the inspection regime on the high seas off Libya. In conclusion, I want to reiterate that we value positive examples of cooperation between Russia and the European Union at the United Nations. I am referring to the situation with the Iranian nuclear programme, the Middle East settlement, the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia and the training of national security forces in the Central African Republic, to name a few. I would specifically highlight the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is currently facing tremendous challenges as a result of the totally irresponsible behaviour of certain actors. We need to be firm in defending what we have achieved. I want to stress once again that the Russian Federation stands ready for and would prefer to see full-fledged cooperation with the European Union. But that is possible only on an equitable basis, when all interests and concerns are mutually taken into account. We are ready for it and believe that the whole world would benefit from such cooperation.

Let me also welcome High Representative Borrell today and thank him for what was a wide-ranging intervention. I will try to respond to some, if not all, of the issues he raised. The United Kingdom left the European Union (EU) on 31 January. We continue to work closely with our European partners, and our outlook will always be global. We recognize the mutual benefits of international cooperation across all areas of the United Nations cross-cutting work to promote international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. As the world grapples with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it is clear that pandemics do not respect borders. Saving lives around the world requires a coordinated international response. To deliver a robust global response, we must all continue to support the international system and the values and rules that underpin it. Tackling this pandemic and its grave effects on our shared parity and stability requires enhanced trust in national Governments, in international cooperation and in international agreements. High Representative Borrell and other speakers have raised the situation in Hong Kong. The United Kingdom is deeply troubled by the decision of the National People’s Congress of China to impose national security legislation on the people of Hong Kong. If China follows through on this decision, it would clearly violate Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and freedoms, as enshrined in the United Kingdom-China Joint Declaration. I would like to draw the attention of all Council members to the joint statement that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued earlier today with his United States, Canadian and Australian counterparts, which sets out our concerns in more detail. We hope that China will now pause to reconsider, take steps to rebuild trust and heal divisions across Hong Kong society and live up to its responsibilities and obligations as a leading member of the international community. In the meantime, the United Kingdom will remain in close contact with all our international partners about the next steps. To end the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to work with all our international partners, including the EU and the United Nations. International collaboration keeps supply chains functioning, supports finding and distributing a vaccine and guides the vital health, humanitarian and development operations of United Nations funds, programmes and agencies in the field. Demands on them will only grow as the crisis deepens. Our response must include supporting the most vulnerable countries, particularly those directly affected by ongoing conflict. In that regard, we welcome the role of the African Union (AU) in the cooperative relationship among the EU, the United Nations and the AU in supporting African leadership in States and regions affected by conflict. As part of our global efforts to tackle the virus, the United Kingdom will make a direct contribution of almost $25 million to the AU’s Africa anti-COVID-19 fund to help efforts to slow the spread of the virus on the continent and to save lives. We must ensure we make a green, clean recovery from COVID-19 in order to meet the challenge of climate change and ensure an ambitious, successful and inclusive twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26). As President of COP 26, the United Kingdom looks forward to working with the United Nations and the EU to deliver the ambitious outcome the world so urgently needs. We consider our European partners as close allies in combating climate change and in leading the world in low carbon transition. Some colleagues have mentioned sanctions. Let me simply say that sanctions are a targeted foreign policy tool used as part of a comprehensive and proportionate strategy, with careful exemptions for humanitarian activity. The United Kingdom strongly supported EU sanctions as a member of the European Union and now continues to implement them nationally for the duration of the transition period. Turning to some of the other points raised by the High Representative, on the Western Balkans we join international partners in supporting the goal of a stable region, continuing its progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. We welcome the decision to open EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, the political agreements in Bosnia and Herzegovina to work on the EU opinion, and efforts to normalize the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo through the EU- facilitated dialogue. NATO remains the cornerstone of Europe’s collective defence, and we were pleased to welcome North Macedonia to the alliance earlier this year. Turning to Ukraine, the United Kingdom will continue to work with the European Union and other partners in support of international law and the wider rules-based international system to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Alongside our international partners, we will continue to make clear to Russia that we do not, and will not, accept its illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. We also underline our support for efforts through the Normandy process to facilitate a negotiated end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and for the work of the Trilateral Contact Group. The High Representative mentioned the work of the European Union in Libya. The EU and the United Kingdom have continued to work closely on Libya, including through engagement with the Berlin process. We look forward to further cooperation with our European partners to urge the Libyan parties and their backers to de-escalate, commit to a lasting ceasefire, ensure unconditional access for humanitarian aid and return to the United Nations-led process. We support efforts to enforce the United Nations arms embargo led through the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI, and we recall that the tragic loss of life in the Mediterranean continues to be a matter of deep regret. On Iran, we are working urgently with all parties to use the dispute-resolution mechanism to find a way forward on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We regard the agreement, which was the product of many years of painstaking diplomacy, as a vital instrument in neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. We thank the European Union for its ongoing role as coordinator. I want to acknowledge the points made by the High Representative and my E-3 colleagues, France and Germany, on the United States decision not to renew nuclear waivers, and I underline the importance of continued engagement on the way forward. While we recognize the agreement’s limitations, we continue to work closely with the remaining parties to the deal to find a diplomatic way forward. We have always been clear over our concerns about Iran’s destabilizing behaviour, including in Yemen, and are consulting partners on the broader implications of the expiry of the arms embargo in October 2012. Finally, we know that EU-United Nations cooperation can be particularly effective in the field of peacekeeping. Collaboration through training, partnerships and complementary security initiatives can multiply efforts to further stability, allowing different actors to play distinct but supporting roles. In the Sahel, for example, we value the work of the EU training mission in its efforts to train the Malian armed forces, to which the United Kingdom continues to provide support. We are proud to be partnering with France in Operation Barkhane and to be deploying a 250-strong military contingent to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali later this year. This will provide situational awareness and information provision for the benefit of all international actors on the ground. An effective United Nations that is able to tackle so many global challenges is in the interests of us all. The United Kingdom will continue to work constructively with the European Union and all other United Nations Members to achieve this.

I thank European Union (EU) High Representative Borrell for his remarks and for joining us today. As the world grapples with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, increased cooperation between the United Nations and the EU takes on a heightened importance to ensure effective joint approaches to the current pandemic and other crises we face. Whether it is coordination between the United Nations and the EU in Europe, the Middle East, Africa or Asia, the United States is deeply appreciative of the EU’s efforts to promote peace, security and human rights in its own neighbourhood and around the world. The United States welcomes expanded cooperation between the United Nations and the EU, and we are hopeful that the strong, invaluable transatlantic relationship between the United States and the EU provides a useful model to follow. The strength of the relationship between the United States and the EU is demonstrated by our cooperation on Ukraine. Ukraine is at an important point in its history, striving to strengthen its democratic institutions, enact needed reforms and deepen its Euro-Atlantic integration, while defending itself against Russian aggression and malign cyberactivity. United States-EU cooperation is critical to countering a Russian disinformation campaign designed to normalize Moscow’s continued occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and aggression in eastern Ukraine. The Trump Administration appreciates the EU’s cooperation on joint sanctions actions against Russia. We share the EU’s conviction that we must continue to impose costs on Russia until Ukraine has regained full control of all its territory. United Nations Member States must remain firmly committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States looks forward to continued cooperation with the EU on holding the Iranian regime to account for the full range of its malign activities. We are committed to maintaining restrictions on Iran’s ability to buy and sell conventional weapons and to seeking to establish a new sanctions regime to take effect following the expiration of the existing arms restrictions this October. We strongly urge the Council’s support. Cooperation between the United States and the EU on Syria is essential to finding a political solution, in line with resolution 2254 (2015). The EU is a critical ally in maintaining the position that there should be no reconstruction assistance flowing to the Al-Assad regime or diplomatic normalization with the regime until the violence ends and there is irreversible progress on resolution 2254 (2015). We appreciate the EU’s efforts to closely coordinate our policies and synchronize further steps commensurate with the political process. We are also grateful to the EU for its humanitarian assistance and support for stabilization programmes in north-east Syria. We must work together to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it the most through the most efficient and effective channels. The Council must renew resolution 2504 (2020) at the earliest possible date, in the light of both the humanitarian and the COVID-19 crises. We note the EU’s continued leadership in providing for the most vulnerable, and we welcome the EU hosting a fourth pledging conference on Syria on 30 June. The United States appreciates the significant contributions of the EU to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which has been extraordinarily successful in maintaining the hard-fought gains against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. We look forward to continued cooperation to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. We are also grateful for the EU’s close cooperation in Iraq. Much like the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the EU Advisory Mission provides vital training to Iraqi security institutions. In Libya, a United Nations-facilitated political solution is the only path to long-term stability. External actors must stop fuelling the conflict. All United Nations Member States must comply with the arms embargo, including by ceasing all support for Libyan factions and withdrawing all mercenary personnel. Bringing stability to Libya will require a sustained effort by the United Nations and steadfast support from the United States and the EU. We value the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI and its contributions to implementing the arms embargo. The United States commends the EU for its support of efforts to apply diplomatic and economic pressure to the North Korean regime to bring about the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is important that the international community send a strong, unified message that North Korea should halt provocations, return to negotiations with the United States and abide by its obligations under Security Council resolutions. In Africa, the EU has played a key role in counter-terrorism, conflict prevention, security assistance and peacebuilding. We are especially grateful for the significant financial support the EU provides for peace and security initiatives in Africa. Through its African Peace Facility, the EU has provided significant support for African-led security initiatives, including sending troop stipends for the African Union Mission in Somalia and reimbursements to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali for its support of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. The EU and its member States play an active role in building capacity in the Sahel and in supporting important initiatives to strengthen international coordination. We welcome the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, which provided over $5 billion in development and humanitarian assistance to 26 African countries to address the sources of instability, forced displacement and irregular migration. As Venezuela faces increasingly dire conditions, the illegitimate Maduro regime is destroying the country’s economy, obstructing humanitarian assistance and repressing democratic actors, including journalists and medical professionals attempting to provide accurate information on COVID-19. United States-EU coordination in support of democracy there is more vital than ever. We welcome the EU and Spain co-hosting a donor conference on 26 May to bridge the humanitarian gap for Venezuelan refugees and migrants across the region. Our efforts have sought to increase international and public support for a peaceful, political resolution and financial pressure against the illegitimate Maduro regime. More recently, they have focused on increasing momentum around a framework offering an equitable path to a transitional Government and free and fair presidential elections. Maduro has already stated that the 2020 parliamentary elections are not a priority during the COVID-19 crisis, but we must prevent all efforts by him to stonewall this legitimate democratic process. Due to these many examples, and many more, the United States affirms unequivocally the EU’s importance as a partner in the maintenance of peace and security around the world. We look forward to furthering our collaboration in the months and years to come.