S/PV.8482 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Her Excellency Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. Mogherini, whom I warmly welcome to our meeting today.

It is an honour for me to speak before the Security Council for the third time. Allow me to underscore that I am proud to do so at a time when five European Union member States are sitting around the table and when cooperation and coordination among the European Union member States in the Security Council has increased enormously. The decision to strengthen that coordination came directly from member States for reasons of principle, but above all because we are aware that we are stronger and more effective together; we are aware of our responsibility; and we can and want to put that strength at the service of the United Nations, multilateralism and a cooperative approach to international relations. We share the same values and interests, starting with the defence of multilateralism and the United Nations system. The European Union and the United Nations were born from the same founding idea, after the two world wars: the idea that, in order to avoid another disaster, a multilateral mechanism was needed  — a mechanism to work towards building win-win solutions as the only alternative to a new continental and world war. For us that idea is still valid, but over the decades our elective affinity has grown even stronger. There is a European path to peace and security, which is identical to the United Nations path to peace and security. It is a path built on mediation and peacekeeping operations, on sustainable development and the protection of human rights, on humanitarian assistance and on the development of, and respect for, shared rules. Our support for the United Nations and multilateralism is a choice based on our values and, at the same time, it is a pragmatic choice. A decision taken in a multilateral context is by definition more democratic and inclusive, but also more solid and sustainable over time. (spoke in English) The European Union will therefore never be heard questioning whether the United Nations serves its interests and values, because we in Europe know that the Organization serves universal interests and values. And we know that precondition to be essential for building sustainable peace and security, which is always in our own ultimate interests. The question we always ask as Europeans, rather, is “What can we do to support the United Nations?”. For working with the United Nations is the best way to serve our collective interests — the interests of peace, security and global progress. That is why the European Union has increased its cooperation with the United Nations across all fields of action. Allow me to update the Council on some of our main fields of cooperation with the United Nations, starting with conflict resolution. Conflicts in our times are more complex than ever. They always have local, regional and global dimensions, and solutions can be built only when those three dimensions align. That is possible only in a multilateral framework. That is clearly true for Syria. Since the beginning of the war, we have said that the only sustainable solution can come from the United Nations-led process and from the implementation of resolution 2254 (2015). A negotiated political transition towards a democratic, inclusive, reconciled and united Syria — that is the only realistic path out of the conflict. Anything else would not lead to a stable, sustainable, secure, inclusive or prosperous Syria. That is why we fully support Special Envoy Pedersen in his difficult but essential work. Precisely to support the United Nations-led process, tomorrow the European Union will co-chair with the United Nations the third Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. Its aim will be to mobilize international support to the United Nations-led political process, gather pledges to guarantee humanitarian aid for Syrians, both inside and outside of their country, and support the countries of the region, starting with Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. After eight years of war, while war continues, the people of Syria are still hoping and preparing for peace, and there are some little signs of hope coming from the region. The Stockholm Agreement on Yemen tells us that steps towards peace can always be possible, even after immense suffering. We are fully and actively supporting Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. The Security Council’s continuous engagement will be crucial to his success and to the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement. The possibility of peace will not turn into reality if we do not invest all our energy in it. That is also true for Libya, where we are working as the European Union in the closest possible cooperation with Special Representative Ghassan Salamé, and we are enforcing resolution 2420 (2018), on the arms embargo. We are coordinating our action directly between the European Union and the United Nations, but also through the quartet that brings together the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the African Union, in coordination that, to me, is essential. Together we can help Libyan players to truly move towards reconciliation, through a national conference to be held in Libya and elections with the right conditions in place. The European Union is and will continue to support that process with all its means. Another country that is clearly at a crossroads this week, and where European Union-United Nations cooperation is key, is Afghanistan. Last year was the deadliest ever for civilians since the start of the war in 2001, and yet 2019 could be the year of peace. We are following very closely the contacts between the representatives of the Taliban and the United States Government. We believe the Taliban need to engage in intra-Afghan talks with the Government in Kabul, together with other parts of the Afghan political spectrum. Those talks should be accompanied by confidence-building measures and a lasting ceasefire. The European Union has offered to support peace in Afghanistan with five practical contributions, which I presented in Geneva a few months ago. First, we can serve as a guarantor of the peace process; secondly, we can help make the process more inclusive, involving in particular women, minorities and all sectors of civil society; thirdly, we can help with reforms; fourthly, we can support the reintegration of former fighters; and last but not least, we can promote regional trade and infrastructure with all of Afghanistan’s neighbours. We are now following this up with our partners, first of all within Afghanistan, but obviously also in the region and in the international community, starting with our friends in the United States. I have talked about four conflicts in our greater region, but allow me to also look to this side of the Atlantic. The situation in Venezuela has been deteriorating dramatically. The crisis affecting the country has political and institutional causes; it is not a natural disaster. Its solution needs to be peaceful, political and democratic. We believe that no military development, from inside or outside of the country, would be acceptable and a solution cannot be and should never be imposed from the outside. We believe that an international initiative can help build a peaceful and democratic way out of the crisis. For that reason, we have set up an international contact group with European and Latin American countries to help create the conditions for a political process that would lead to free and fair presidential elections, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution and international standards. Even when there is no multilateral framework, the European Union tries to work to build or rebuild one. In the meantime, we are working on Venezuela, together with the relevant United Nations agencies, to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need inside and outside the country, following the key principles of humanitarian law and avoiding any politicization of the aid delivery. In all these cases, our strongest interest is to restore peace and security, and that is possible only in a multilateral framework. We always work in support of the United Nations and for peace. The United Nations is the key partner for us on conflict resolution in Africa. From the Central African Republic to the Sudan, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Guinea-Bissau — wherever there is a peace process and a United Nations peacekeeping mission, the European Union is there to support politically, financially and with our own missions on the ground. New threats to peace and security in Africa have an impact on the stability of both our two continents — ours is the closest to Africa — and I would mention in particular the growing terrorism threats and transboundary criminal activities that are challenging our security on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The role of United Nations peacekeepers has sometimes been questioned. We in the European Union believe that it is an essential tool towards sustainable peace and security. The European Union Member States, taken together, contribute one-third of the United Nations peacekeeping budget. That is more than any other global Power, and we are proud of that. We also believe in African solutions to African challenges. African Union peace support operations are a vital instrument for the promotion of international environment of peace and security on the African continent and globally. The African Union is pursuing major financial and institutional reforms in order to become a major player for regional security. I was honoured to be present at the latest African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa just a few weeks ago. This is a process we fully support, and we should do so, including through the possibility of utilizing United Nations contributions for African Union peace support operations authorized by the Security Council, and in compliance with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law. I would like to mention two cases I particularly care about — which does not mean that I do not care about the others, but these two examples are particularly appropriate in these times. The first is Mali. I believe that a sort of renaissance of Mali is possible, and I believe that a solution to the problems that Mali is facing can come only from the people of Mali themselves. Just a few days ago, I met with the representatives of the movements that signed the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. This was my second meeting with them to discuss some key political and institutional reforms, including security sector reform. The European Union is the first supporter of the Joint Force created by the Group of Five for the Sahel — a regional solution to regional challenges. As these processes take place, a United Nations presence must be guaranteed. We will continue to support the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali with our two European training and capacity-building missions on the ground. Something similar can be said for Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia is working to take greater responsibility for the security of the country. While Somali forces have to step up and take full responsibility for security in their own country, which is the only way make security in Somalia sustainable, they still rely on the support of their international partners — first and foremost the European Union — starting with the African Union Mission in Somalia, which the European Union continues to support and finance. We know that the transition of responsibilities can only happen gradually, but it has to happen, in connection with the path of reforms. The United Nations and the its Assistance Mission in Somalia have a special role to play in coordinating the international community’s work in the country, and for that reason we look forward to the appointment of a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Clearly, our cooperation with the United Nations and Africa goes well beyond peacekeeping, but in all sectors our approach is the same. Africa wants and needs to take responsibility for its own security, its own economy, its own present and its own future, and as Europeans we want to accompany our brothers and sisters on this path. We have moved from the old donor-recipient relationship to a partnership of equals in particular during the Abidjan Summit a year and a half ago. We set our common priorities together and we try to understand how everyone can contribute to achieving them by each playing its own role. This new approach is also changing the way we work together in the United Nations context. For over a year now, we have been working in a trilateral format with the African Union and the United Nations. Our common work began on a common challenge — the dramatic situation of African migrants in Libya’s detention centres. We realized together that we could empty those centres and save lives only by working together, and thanks to our cooperation in one year we have helped over 30,000 people to return voluntarily to their homes or find international protection whenever needed. This is probably our most innovative contribution to a more effective multilateralism — regional organizations joining forces on the ground and in triangulation with the United Nations agencies. I would like now to mention two more contributions of the European Union to the multilateral system, starting with reconciliation in a region closer to the European Union reconciliation — the Balkans. Let me thank every member of the Security Council for their constructive approach to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. For a full-fledged resumption of the talks, the tariffs that have been imposed by the Government of Kosovo must be revoked. The day the tariffs are suspended, I will immediately call for a new meeting of the dialogue to reach a legally binding agreement that should address all outstanding issues and fully normalize relations between Pristina and Belgrade. As Council members know, I personally facilitate the dialogue, but the dialogue does not belong to me, the European Union or any of us around this table. The Dialogue belongs to the parties. It is up to them to find an agreement that would be acceptable, convenient and sustainable to both. At the same time, a final agreement will need to be in line with international law and supported by the Security Council. The Council’s role is and will be key, and we are ready — I am personally ready — to intensify our exchanges with all members of the Security Council on this. Staying in the Balkans, let me say that this year we have already seen something historical in that region. The Prespa agreement is another positive example of European Union-United Nations cooperation and a remarkable example of political leadership by the two countries, North Macedonia and Greece. A positive conclusion to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina would give even more hope to the whole region and would serve as a model and inspiration to Europe and the world. I have mentioned a number of geographic priorities, but we all know that most of the challenges we face have a global dimension. So let me conclude by referring to the European Union’s support for global solutions to global challenges. From the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to the Sustainable Development Goals, progress on these agreements would have been impossible without the strong commitment of the European Union and, most importantly, we continue to work and the Security Council can continue to count on us for their full implementation. This is a moment in human history when cooperation among nations and respect for the rules that govern our international systems are more needed than ever. The concept of global governance risks being replaced by the old law that “might makes right”. We need to avoid our system of rules from being disrupted and our multilateral system from being called into question. A clear violation of the fundamental principles of our international system came with Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and its behaviour in eastern Ukraine. And the situation in Crimea also led to the militarization of the Sea of Azov. That is what happens when international law is violated — tensions rise, conflicts proliferate and we all lose. Russia is an important interlocutor for the European Union. We work well together on several files, from Iran to the Arctic. Yet it is no mystery that we are deeply worried about certain behaviours, not only in Ukraine but also in Salisbury, as well as about the use of espionage against the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. We have also expressed serious concerns about Russia’s compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. We need to work to preserve the Treaty and for Russia to return to full compliance. Europe is not party to the Treaty, but is clearly extremely interested in its existence. The global architecture for disarmament and non-proliferation is being questioned like never before. To us that is one of the greatest paradoxes of our times, because deterrence is clearly no longer enough for preventing a war, given the fragmentation of centres of power in today’s world. A new arms race — and a nuclear arms race in particular — can only make the world less secure. Our collective security requires a solid multilateral architecture for non-proliferation and disarmament. That is why the European Union will continue to work to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran. Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments has been confirmed in 14 consecutive reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest just a couple of weeks ago. Alongside Iran’s implementation, the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is an essential part of the deal. We will therefore continue to work to preserve the economic dividends of sanctions- lifting. This is a contribution to our collective security on the part of the European Union and its member States, and I would like to thank in particular France, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is also a way to prevent nuclear proliferation, especially relevant in an extremely tense region. Finally, it is also a contribution to preserving the credibility of the Security Council, which endorsed the Iran deal through resolution 2231 (2015), adopted unanimously. We have serious issues with Iran’s behaviour on other matters, starting with ballistic missiles, human rights and regional dynamics. But without a nuclear deal, discussion with Iran would be much more difficult, not easier. Dismantling a deal that works and delivers will never be a good starting point to advance our collective security interests. The European Union will continue to support all efforts to strengthen and expand the global non-proliferation regime. The Council can count on our contribution towards the full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We have imposed the toughest sanctions on North Korea and, at the same time, have kept channels open to encourage dialogue at all levels. We are ready to support the difficult process under the way with our expertise and our political support. Our approach is always to build and never to dismantle. We do not believe that the current multilateral system is perfect. Nothing is perfect. That is why we fully support the reform agenda of Secretary-General António Guterres and are contributing in practice to a more effective multilateral system. We need to expand and improve the system for global governance, not weaken or demolish it. When the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) faced a serious funding crisis, the European Union and its member States stepped in to fill the gap and prevent a sudden cessation of the Agency’s work. We want UNRWA to continue its vital reforms, but we cannot afford the collapse of the Agency and the ensuing chaos. The Agency’s work is essential, first and foremost to the lives of millions of people, but also to preserve the viability of a two-State solution between Israel and Palestine. We believe that the only alternative to the two-State solution is turmoil and violence in the holy places. That is why the European Union and its member States will continue to work together with international partners to preserve the viability of a two-State solution in the holy places. Protecting and reforming the United Nations is our collective responsibility. As Europeans we feel that responsibility because we see the United Nations as our common home. It is the centre of gravity of the international system, the tool we have to build a more peaceful and cooperative global order. The United Nations is not only a covenant of States, it also represents hope for millions of human beings who still suffer from the same human rights violations that the world collectively decided to ban after the misery of the Second World War. The European Union is contributing to a stronger and more effective multilateral system. We are investing in our cooperation with the United Nations system as never before because we want to assume our responsibility for our common home. I believe that we must all renew our commitment to support the United Nations  — politically, financially and diplomatically, here in New York as well as on the ground, in all the peace process that need a multilateral framework to succeed. For us Europeans this is the best investment we could make. We will continue to support the United Nations and its work by collaborating as much as possible with our partners and friends worldwide that believe in a cooperative multilateral international order, as we do.

I thank High Representative Mogherini for her important briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

It is a great pleasure to see High Representative Mogherini here at the Security Council. None of my remarks run counter to what she has just said. I wish only to repeat that the European Union and the United Nations have the same foundational principles. I think that is quite powerful. We share the same values. I endorse her position at the end of her statement concerning human rights  — that the United Nations and the European Union both represent multilateralism, and it is the cooperation that she described that makes the two organizations more robust and lend them credibility. I do not want to repeat what she said, but it was striking to see that the European Union is also active in similar ways on all the issues under consideration here. With regard to Syria, for example, she indicated that she supported resolution 2254 (2015) and is participating in the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. She mentioned that she supported the efforts of Mr. Griffiths in Yemen. There was a similar overlap with regard to Afghanistan, Venezuela and the Middle East. For example, the European Union also supports the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East at a time of crisis for the Agency. That support is very important in enabling young Palestinians to attend school. The same is true of what she said about North Korea  — that the European Union and the United Nations are working together multilaterally to set up negotiations with North Korea. That would not be possible without multilateralism, as there would be no discussions with North Korea. Of course, I would also like to highlight European Union actions with regard to Africa, which is a crucial issue. High Representative Mogherini mentioned that she attended the African Union summit, which the Secretary-General also attended. I think that is symbolic of the trilateral cooperation  — among the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union — that can contribute to resolving issues. As Ms. Mogherini has just said, there must be regional African solutions for African issues. Working together is also important. She also mentioned something that is very important to us, that is to say, inclusive solutions for issues, in which civil society, in particular women, is involved and participates. That is not only because there is the Commission on the Status of Women but it is a very clear German position on the participation of women in negotiations, mediation and conflict resolution. Yesterday we talked about Afghanistan, where it is vital that women truly participate in the talks in Doha (see S/PV.8481). I do not want to speak for any longer but I would just say that for Germany and France, through our joint presidencies, one of our aims is as part of our European Union support, thereby highlighting the shared values of France, Germany and the European Union. The second to last point is just to underline what the High Representative said about the disarmament architecture. I think that it is important that we remain engaged on that agenda. There are too many losses, starting with the Budapest Memorandum at the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in which the High Representative herself was greatly involved — she did a great deal towards achieving that agreement, which is a true masterpiece of diplomacy — as well as with regard to what she said about the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. She has our full support. I would like to ask a question about something that is very important to us, namely, conflict prevention. Could the High Representative perhaps indicate where she sees issues or projects where the European Union and the United Nations can perhaps work more closely together to truly preventing conflicts?

I would like to welcome Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Security Council and to thank her very warmly for her briefing. The European Union (EU) project has been the most important institutional source of peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Second World War. In that regard, the European Union will remain a natural partner and ally to the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. Moreover, as the European community, we are already united in striving for the collective commitment to deliver an even more peaceful and sustainable world, as envisioned in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. With the growing need to strengthen partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, there is a space to be filled by a strategic partnership between the European Union and the United Nations in the areas of peacekeeping and crisis management. Apart from regular high-level dialogues with the participation of the EU/UN Steering Committee on crisis management, further cooperation between missions and Headquarters is required, as more emerging multifaceted challenges occur. Poland clearly understands such challenges and fully supports the need for an enhanced EU-United Nations partnership, as defined in the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy. We are glad that support for global governance and the United Nations was one of the EU’s priorities in implementing the Strategy until the end of the current institutional cycle. Caring exclusively about safety and security in our own European territory would be not only short-sighted but certainly counterproductive. That is why the EU has repeatedly reiterated its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Poland and the European Union will remain active supporters and advocates of international law and a rules-based international order. Our special responsibility falls to the region of the Western Balkans, where the EU helps in strengthening democracy and human rights agenda through its enlargement policy. We want to welcome all those countries into our European family in the near future. We cannot forget about the European Union’s active engagement in peace and security in Africa not only through significant contributions to the relevant financial instruments but also, to name just a few activities, by establishing training missions in the Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia or by supporting the United Nations efforts aimed at combating human trafficking and the illicit trade in oil and weapons on the high seas off the coast of Libya through Operation Sophia. The European Union is also a core partner of the United Nations in reaching lasting solutions to the crises in the Middle East region, exercising its influence and using resources to address conflicts in Syria and Yemen and to reignite the Middle East peace process. One of the priority areas of further strengthening and structuring the EU-United Nations partnership should be migration. A few steps that could be undertaken are the stronger involvement of the international community in counteracting the root causes of illegal migration and providing adequate financing for humanitarian assistance. Another priority should include strengthening cooperation on preventive diplomacy and mediation. To prevent conflict, one needs good development policies and strong State institutions. The European Union delivers necessary assistance in those areas around the world with the United Nations helping to identify the areas where the assistance is most needed. The EU should maintain its commitments and continue to be a world’s leading donor of development aid. The last topic I would like to highlight today pertains to the establishment of an EU-United Nations collaborative platform on women, peace and security. Nineteen years after Security Council adopted the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) there is still a need to reaffirm the important role that women play in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The European Union is increasingly active as a worldwide security provider. The EU member States provide almost 40 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping budget. Collectively, we are the largest United Nations budget contributor. In conclusion, we think that cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the European Union could and should be further strengthened to spread our common values and fulfil the untapped potential with the very aim to bring peace and prosperity in the whole world.

We would like to thank Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her detailed briefing. The Dominican Republic recognizes that there are challenges are huge and complex in this millennium, and it is therefore essential to strengthen the links between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in order to broaden the scope, make the work more effective and increasingly ensure international peace and security. We recognize that cooperation with regional organizations is essential, as we share the same commitment to the pursuit of solutions to global problems. We understand that such relations are crucial to stability and security, Many of these regional organizations serve as natural mediators, and partnership with them can help to foster the conditions necessary for finding lasting and sustainable solutions, on the consistent basis of mutual benefit for States and the principles of international law, and in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We welcome the laudable and intensive efforts of the European Union and its member States in the promotion of international peace and security. We acknowledge the ongoing support that the European Union provides to various countries through various channels, including good offices, mediation, support for the development of national capacity and training. Likewise, under the authority of the Security Council, the European Union also provides financing and equipment to peacekeeping operations and supports institutional development. In that respect, its presence in the international arena strengthens the scope of multilateralism, and its contribution promotes the quest for sustainable peace. That said, we are convinced that the European security and defence policy is an integral and complementary part of the architecture of the multilateral system. Currently 70 per cent of European Union missions and operations are carried out in parallel with the United Nations, reflecting the complementary nature of the work of both organizations. Thus progress has been made in the quest for sustainable solutions in the Balkans by facilitating dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and reaching an agreement on the integration of justice, border management and the civil registry. Most importantly, tangible progress has been made towards stability and the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. By the same token, the European Union-led multinational stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina has helped to maintain political and social stability. In addition, the European Union has been consistently working to resolve the situation in eastern Ukraine, providing operational and practical support such as momentum in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Moreover, in Africa the European Union continues to provide training and support to the security sector in Somalia, the Central African Republic and Mali. The Dominican Republic has taken note with interest of the painstaking work undertaken by the organization in conflict zones in promoting and protecting human rights. My country attaches great importance to the follow-up and monitoring of human rights in the field. It is for that reason that we deem it crucial to have in place early-warning systems and to be able to take preventive measures. Experience has shown the need for prevention, as otherwise the highest price will be paid by the most vulnerable groups, including refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants. Our country is part of a region that champions political dialogue and action at the international level as a means of progressing towards common, beneficial goals. We therefore welcome the fact that the European Union, together with all its members, plays a crucial role in the resolution of many global challenges, including the food crisis, climate change and terrorism. Here we welcome the 2019-2021 strategic partnership between the European Union and the United Nations in the fields of peacekeeping and crisis management. We would highlight in particular efforts related to the issue of women and peace and security. We believe in the key role of women and youth in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, with a view to finding sustainable solutions. The Dominican Republic notes with interest the policies and normative frameworks of the European Union in the fields of the prevention of and combat against terrorism. We believe that terrorism constitutes one of the chief threats to international peace and security. In addition to its toll on innocent human lives and on the environment, terrorism represents a threat to the rule of law, democracy, the peaceful coexistence of peoples and social and economic development. Finally, we reiterate our support for the relationship and cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. We express our confidence in the work of the European Union, as we view it as a key global political and economic player that contributes to the peaceful resolution of disputes. As we commend the work of done by the European Union throughout the world, we urge the international community and all actors involved to continue to support the taking of measures before crises erupt and the preventive diplomatic efforts of regional organizations.

We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and thank her for her briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and one of the world’s largest regional organizations. Just the other day, on 7 March (see S/PV.8479), we discussed the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, at a meeting in which every single member of the Security Council supported developing and improving United Nations cooperation with regional and subregional organizations on the basis of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. That applies equally to the European Union (EU), the African Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and all the rest of our regional organizations, inasmuch as today’s world requires that we solve problems together based on the relative advantages of each individual intergovernmental body. All of those regional organizations deserve respect and can contribute to strengthening international stability and cooperation. We have noted and share the European Union’s determined focus on strengthening global multilateralism with the United Nations taking a leading role. There can be no question that in that regard our interests fully coincide. However, we are alarmed by a dangerous trend that has recently become increasingly apparent — attempts to replace our system based on international law with some sort of a new so- called rules-based order, which of late we have been hearing about constantly from EU representatives. But those rules are created based on the particular needs of like-minded groups. Those who agree to submit to them are considered to be supporters of multilateralism, while any dissenters are deemed opponents. There is no question that the European Union is a major political and economic player in the international arena, contributing significantly and sometimes decisively to solving many international problems. It more than carries its weight in the Security Council, considering that at present one third — five countries — of Council members are part of the EU, two of them with veto power. Despite the differences that persist between Russia and the EU, our cooperation in many areas continues uninterrupted, and we see great potential there, particularly with regard to global challenges such as terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking, transnational crime and illegal migration. Russia and the EU have accumulated solid experience of close and productive cooperation with regard to a settlement in the Middle East in the framework of the Quartet of international mediators. In 2016, in particular, we were able to prepare a report together containing clear recommendations on the resumption of the political process that still remain relevant. We value the EU’s role in helping to reach agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, an area in which Russian diplomacy also did a great deal of work, and we are hoping to see EU States contribute constructively to the international efforts promoting a political settlement in Syria. However, it will be important to refrain from politicizing humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in the Syrian Arab Republic. The EU plays a major role in assisting United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, including in Africa. It can count on our support in that area. The European Union member States make major contributions to assisting international development and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the past few years, however, there have been a number of reasons to question the EU’s ability to play a constructive role both in Europe itself and in the world in general. We are left with the impression that this major, economically powerful entity somehow cannot manage to define its own independent political direction. Increasingly often, its cornerstone seems in solidarity with Euro-Atlantic interests and a bloc mentality. And we have seen what that leads to in the examples of Libya, Syria, Ukraine and most recently Venezuela and a number of other States. The models proposed for resolving domestic political issues in these countries often simply do not work. We must not burn our bridges, or there may soon be no need for mediation. A recent example is the stalemated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the EU’s inability to convince the Kosovo Albanian authorities to end their provocative policies. In today’s world, unfortunately, restrictive measures and sanctions have virtually become a key foreign-policy instrument, and the European Union is also guilty of that. The effect of such unilateral steps is highly questionable and further weakens developing States that the international community really should be helping. It appears that our European partners have obediently swallowed the unreliable United States claims about Russia’s alleged violations of what is a foundational agreement for Europe, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which we tried to save until the last moment. The result is that a pillar of European security is collapsing before our very eyes. And because of that same bloc solidarity, Europe is marching in lockstep with any or all of the ridiculous accusations against Russia, as rubber-stamping them has pretty much become the done thing politically. Despite all of that, we remain optimistic. Russians believe that all prevailing circumstances will be overcome and we will once again be able to speak of the strategic partnership that is so important to our shared neighbours and to many African, Asian and Latin American States. We have not lost hope in the possibility that through our joint efforts we will be able to heal the cracks that have appeared in the Euro- Atlantic space and prevent the emergence of new ones. We are interested not in a European Union that is fragmented and weak, as some often try to portray it, but in an independent, strong European Union that has an important role to play in world affairs and a vision of a collective future for Europe from the Atlantic to Vladivostok.

My delegation would first like to welcome Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to today’s meeting and to commend her on her excellent briefing. As Secretary-General Guterres has rightly pointed out, the many threats to global stability that we are dealing with call for us to pool our efforts and means in order to meet today’s challenges. We believe that the quest for international peace and security is a long-term endeavour that requires all of our support. We therefore have to work to build a world order based on full- scale cooperation in a multilateral framework. From that perspective, the cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union (EU), based on Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, is a concrete reflection of a partnership based on a community built on shared values and principles. The European Union is an essential partner of the United Nations within a framework of increased cooperation that encompasses economic growth and sustainable development as well as peace and security. We see the European Union’s unflagging commitment in the fact that it contributes 40 per cent of the United Nations peacekeeping budget and that EU voluntary contributions represent half of the combined budgets of United Nations programmes. Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the European Union’s significant contributions and its pragmatic vision for its multidimensional efforts, based on the European Union Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, the sustaining peace agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also welcome the joint commitment that the United Nations and the European Union made in September 2018 to promoting multilateralism and a rules-based world order by seeking innovative solutions to global challenges. The European Union formulated its annual priorities for the period from 2018 to 2019 on that basis, focusing primarily on strengthening multilateralism, promoting mediation as a tool for fostering peace, advancing sustainable development, defending human rights and addressing issues related to climate change. In its implementation of the goals it has set for itself, the United Nations is central to the European Union’s work, as is strengthening its cooperation and partnerships with other regional organizations, including the African Union, thereby also supporting their role in prevention and peacebuilding. In that regard, my country welcomed the holding on 23 September 2018, on the margins of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session, of the third trilateral meeting of the African Union, European Union and the United Nations, at which the leaders of those organizations reaffirmed, “Their joint commitment to promote an effective multilateral system and ... to take further action towards reinforcing synergies and coordination in tackling global challenges through international cooperation”. Côte d’Ivoire also welcomed the holding in Abidjan on 29 and 30 November 2017 of the fifth African Union-European Union Summit, under the theme, “Investing in youth for a sustainable future”, which was an opportunity for the two organizations to identify in a joint declaration their shared priorities for the future of the Africa-European Union partnership, including the strengthening of resilience, peace and security and governance, and the issue of migration and mobility. Aware of the effect of new threats to regional and international peace and security on the stability of both continents, the two regional institutions understand the importance of strengthening their relations and agreeing in principle on the preparation of a framework document that would contribute to the strengthening of their partnership. Regardless, the European Union remains a partner of choice for Africa, particularly in the areas of peace and security. The EU’s involvement in the fight against terrorism and the settlement of crises, particularly in Mali, Somalia and Guinea-Bissau, is eloquent proof of that. In addition to the already excellent cooperation we have in the area of peace and security, we continue to believe that joint investment in youth for accelerated inclusive growth and sustainable development, as advocated at the Abidjan Summit, would open up prospects for building a more stable future in Africa. In conclusion, Côte d’Ivoire reaffirms its faith in the advantages of multilateralism aimed at establishing a cooperative order governing international relations. In that regard, my country supports and encourages close cooperation between the United Nations and other regional organizations similar to that between it and the European Union, which will be crucial if we are to meet the new challenges we are seeing to international peace and security.

I thank High Representative Mogherini for her excellent briefing today. Listening to her, I am struck by just how central the European Union (EU) is to every single issue on the Security Council’s agenda, and it is therefore very useful to have this level of engagement. Today happens to be an important day for the United Kingdom’s own relationship with the European Union. At the beginning, therefore, I want to make it clear that notwithstanding the United Kingdom’s forthcoming departure from the European Union, it will of course be mutually beneficial for the United Kingdom and the European Union to continue to cooperate closely across the three pillars of the work of the United Nations. I would now like to touch on some of the issues that Ms. Mogherini brought up in her presentation. First, with regard to Syria, like others, we very much welcome the fact that Brussels will host the third EU-United Nations conference on the future of Syria and the region. The United Kingdom, like the other countries represented around this table, strongly supports the United Nations-led political process, and we call on the Syrian regime and those who have influence on it to engage in the political process and implement the regime’s obligations under resolution 2254 (2015). We particularly welcome the recent announcement of EU sanctions against regime figures, and the United Kingdom will remain at the forefront of responding to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. We have already given £ 2.8 billion since 2012 and we will remain engaged. Secondly, on the subject of Iran, we also warmly welcome the EU’s work and the personal engagement of the High Representative in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). We completely agree with her that it is a vital instrument in neutralizing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. The United Kingdom will remain committed to the JCPOA and will uphold it as long as Iran continues to meet its commitments in full. We nevertheless continue to see Iran’s actions in its neighbourhood as harmful and destabilizing, in particular in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Thirdly, with regard to the comments the High Representative made on the question of reconciliation in the Western Balkans, again we very much welcome and support the EU’s continued efforts in bringing lasting stability to the region, not least through the EU-facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. The United Kingdom was the first State to recognize Kosovo and its independence in 2008, and we will continue to work in full support for the recognition of Kosovo, which will itself enable political normalization and deliver increased prosperity for citizens across the region. I should add, however, that we do have concerns that a dialogue agreement based solely on border changes could risk endangering stability in Kosovo, Serbia and the region. Finally, turning to Africa, we welcome both the developing dialogue between the EU and the African Union and the EU’s growing cooperation with the United Nations in States and regions affected by conflict. The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy missions, for example in the Sahel, Somalia and the Central African Republic, have all delivered niche capabilities and nurtured valued partnerships, while enabling the United Nations to direct its resources towards action where it can add value. As United Nations mission mandates come up for renewal, including a number this month on Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, it will be important to strengthen the complementarity between the United Nations and EU instruments as we move forward. In the coming period, the United Kingdom will continue to work in the Council and with the European Union and other partners in support of the wider rules-based international system, whether that is in promoting accountability in Myanmar, enforcing sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity. A close future partnership between the European Union and the United Nations will be vital if we are to achieve those important aims. Allow me to conclude with a comment for the High Representative. Especially given that the Commission on the Status of Women is meeting this week here at the United Nations, I think it would be very interesting to hear her thoughts on how the United Nations and the EU could cooperate more in the field of women and peace and security, particularly when it comes to our peace operations and involvement in political processes.

At the outset, I wish to thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Mogherini, for her briefing. As an important partner in cooperation with the United Nations and the Security Council, the European Union (EU) has been actively involved in strengthening multilateralism and enhancing the role of the United Nations. It has been deeply engaged in the resolution of hotspot issues in regions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and has played an important role in maintaining regional peace and stability. China expresses its appreciation in that connection. We live in a world in which countries are becoming more interdependent and our future is becoming more intertwined. China supports the United Nations and the Security Council in deepening their cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, such as the EU, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. First, the United Nations and the EU should join hands in upholding multilateralism. In today’s world, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and the international order and the global system of governance are under attack. Multilateralism is needed now more than ever before. Parties must work together to safeguard the international system and the collective security mechanism, with the United Nations at their core, and enhance the role and standing of the United Nations in international affairs. Secondly, the United Nations and the EU must uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter by respecting the sovereignty of States and the development path chosen independently by the countries concerned. They must further resolve disputes through diplomatic means, such as dialogue, good offices and mediation, inter alia, and respect the leading role of relevant countries and regional organizations, such as the African Union, in relevant relevant issuespolitical settlement processes. Thirdly, there is space for cooperation between the United Nations and the EU in promoting sustainable development. As a party with advantages in economic development, the EU has a lot to offer in terms of helping and supporting developing countries in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by strengthening North-South cooperation, in line with the needs of the developing countries and working in synergy with the United Nations. China highly values its relationship with the EU. We support EU integration and welcome a united, stable and prosperous Europe. China is ready to continue to work with the EU through platforms of cooperation, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, to make new headway in the China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, thereby making new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

At the outset, I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. I would like to welcome Ms. Mogherini and thank her for her detailed and comprehensive briefing on the aspects of cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations. We agree with her that our cooperation together would make us more strong and effective. I would like to highlight her reference to the EU’s attachment to multilateralism and its commitment to providing political, economic and financial support to the United Nations, which is facing financial difficulties concerning the regular and peacekeeping budgets. We all agree that our world is facing gross and unprecedented challenges, in addition to terrorism, violent extremism, illegal migration, trafficking in illicit drugs and transnational organized crime. It is impossible to address those challenges alone. Instead, we must pool our efforts regionally and internationally to respond to and eliminate them. Like China, as just noted by its representative, Kuwait highly appreciates the role played by regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security. We recognize the central and increasing role they play in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts at all stages. We support every effort aimed at consolidating and developing partnerships between the United Nations and various regional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We are well aware that the goal of international cooperation, as stipulated in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Charter, is to resolve international problems of an economic, social, cultural or political nature through multilateralism. The EU has considerable international weight as the largest contributor to peacekeeping operations  — its share amounting to about 30 per cent of all contributions — which makes it one of the most important international parties that contribute effectively to finding solutions to the various challenges facing the world today and listed on the Security Council’s agenda. We therefore appreciate the joint efforts and cooperation by the EU and the United Nations, in particular in Africa in the maintenance of peacekeeping operations in Mali and the Central African Republic and for the provision of logistical support, training and capacity-building for the national security forces in Mali and the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. The tripartite cooperation among the African Union (AU), the United Nations and the EU to fund the AU Mission in Somalia is also welcome. Europe and the Arab region share some commonalities in terms of history and geography that facilitate our cooperation and enable us to create coordination mechanisms and partnerships, thereby strengthening and broadening our relations and enhancing the common interests of our States at all levels. The first Arab-European summit, convened two weeks ago in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the theme “Investing in stability”, demonstrates well the true intentions of both regions to consolidate their cooperation in various areas, such as terrorism, migration, refugees and climate change. We welcome the agreement to convene another summit in Brussels in 2022. Undoubtedly, like other regional organizations, the EU faces various direct and indirect challenges, including long-standing regional conflicts, as mentioned today by Ms. Mogherini and several days ago by the Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (see S/PV.8479). Some of those conflicts, in particular those relating to the Middle East and North Africa, have an impact on European countries, especially in the Mediterranean. Long-standing conflicts require international bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the United Nations, the EU and the League of Arab States in addressing and resolving conflicts in our region. Indeed, the tripartite cooperation among the United Nations, the European Union and the League of Arab States is an effective way of reaching effective solutions to existing conflicts. The State of Kuwait supports the efforts made by the EU to find peaceful solutions to conflicts through dialogue and negotiations. In that regard, I would like to highlight the observation of Ms. Mogherini regarding the efforts made by the European Union to relaunch the Middle East peace process and promote the two- State solution. We always welcome that position, which reflects the general approach of the member States of the EU that are members of the Security Council. They consistently call for the implementation of Security Council resolutions that reject unilateral actions such as the construction of settlements in contravention of Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2334 (2016). The State of Kuwait shares with the EU common purposes, principles and values leading to the promotion of international peace and security based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the emphasis on multilateralism in the area of humanitarian diplomacy. That common approach is reflected on the ground by joint cooperation in chairing various international and humanitarian conferences, such as the international donors conference to support the humanitarian situation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, held in October 2017 with the cooperation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Kuwait has co-chaired several international donors conferences in coordination with the EU and the United Nations, such as the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, held in 2017, and the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq, held in Kuwait in February 2018. In conclusion, we fully support bilateral and tripartite cooperation and coordination among the United Nations, the EU and the AU, as well as tripartite cooperation among the United Nations, the EU and the League of Arab States, with a view to bringing about peace, security, stability and development for our countries and peoples.

First of all, I would like to thank the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for her briefing and her presence here today. Belgium is of course pleased to have this opportunity once again to discuss the close partnership and cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. Ms. Mogherini’s briefing made very clear the extent to which the European Union is a major partner of the Security Council, as it works to find lasting solutions to many of the crises on our agenda here at the Council. That is the case for Syria — Ms. Mogherini mentioned the conference being held this week in Brussels, co-chaired by the United Nations and the European Union. That is also the case for Iran — Ms. Mogherini mentioned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which remains an essential element of the global non-proliferation architecture and is also a very important achievement of multilateral diplomacy. I would also like to point out that the agreement is also one of the most successful examples of cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. That is also the case for the Balkans, where the European Union is contributing to the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the EU-led peacekeeping force’s Operation Althea, as well as to the strengthening of the rule of law in Kosovo through the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo under the auspices of the United Nations. Of course, we hope that the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade that Ms. Mogherini is facilitating can be resumed as soon as possible in Brussels. As has been said, the European Union and the United Nations share the same commitment to a world based on the fundamental principles of democracy, the rule of law and the universality and indivisibility of human rights. The result is a natural partnership between two organizations that are intensifying and strengthening their cooperation. The European Union and the United Nations share a common vision and willingness to address the root causes of conflicts and establish lasting peace, in particular through an integrated approach, in accordance with both the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Union’s global strategy. The European Union’s role as the largest donor of development and humanitarian aid in the world is in line with that approach. I would like to say that the presence of the High Representative among us shows strong political determination on the part of the European Union to continue to deepen the current partnership with the United Nations, which is based on complementarity. The joint work of the EU and the United Nations in peacekeeping and crisis management is a concrete example of that complementarity. The High Representative mentioned several cases in that context. Allow me to highlight two particular points. First, Belgium supports the inclusion of the women and peace and security agenda as a cross-cutting priority. At the level of peacekeeping operations, the United Nations and the EU must work together to make that political commitment a reality by significantly increasing the participation of women both in principle and for reasons of positive operational impact on the functioning of those missions. Secondly, Ms. Mogherini mentioned the example of trilateral cooperation among the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union, which seems to me to be a very interesting example. I would like to ask the High Representative if she could identify specific good practices in that area and if she sees the potential for doing the same with other regional organizations. My colleague from Kuwait just mentioned the League of Arab States and, of course, there are other organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Is there a possibility for trilateral cooperation with those organizations?

We thank you, Sir, for convening today’s meeting, and Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her very informative briefing. We recall that, on a day like today in 1975, the first meeting of the European Council was held in Dublin. Although the general policies of the European Union were already in the process of being defined, the European Council did not become an official institution until 2009. That is a reminder of the arduous and ongoing process of building European unity and institutions, an example of both integration and perseverance. Peru attaches special importance to cooperation between the Security Council and regional and subregional organizations, pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. We believe that it is essential to stress the potential of such dynamics given the increasingly complex challenges to international peace and security. In that regard, we underscore and recognize the active participation and involvement of the European Union in the various issues on the Security Council’s agenda, which has continued to increase over time. Particularly commendable is the European Union’s ongoing humanitarian response to provide immediate relief for vulnerable populations and develop mechanisms and processes for peacebuilding. Similarly, we recognize its partnership in the shared objective of sustaining peace, such as in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Multinational Stabilization Force EUFOR- Althea, in Kosovo through its Rule of Law Mission and by facilitating dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. In that respect, we welcome the adoption, in September last year, of a new set of priorities to strengthen the European Union-United Nations strategic partnership on peace operations and crisis management for the period 2019-2021, based on the various tools and instruments being consolidated in various continents. They range from participation in peacekeeping operations to cooperation in the development of national capacities and the implementation of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. We welcome the European Union’s firm support for the Secretary-General’s recent Action for peacekeeping initiative. We would like to highlight in particular the European Union’s commitment to the prevention agenda. We also highlight the so-called Copenhagen criteria, which remind us of the importance of stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and the protection of minorities. In that regard, we agree that the protection and promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights complement efforts relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore, by combating the root causes of conflict we reinforce its prevention. We would like to conclude by highlighting that historic commitment, which has transcended time, turned the European Union into a symbol of multilateralism and granted it the legitimacy to continue inspiring the values of diversity, cooperation and dialogue in States around the world. We recall the words uttered by Jean Monnet at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in April 1952: (spoke in French) “It is of universal importance that Europe live by its own means and in security, that it is peaceful and able to continue to make a great contribution to civilization. The path to all of its goals passes through its unification. A federal Europe is indispensable to the security and peace of the free world.”

South Africa would like to thank Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for her informative briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, which clearly illustrates the added value that regional organizations provide to the maintenance of international peace and security. The international community, including the EU and its member States and millions of their citizens, played an indispensable role in the liberation of all South Africans and in the fight against the apartheid regime. None of that progress would have been possible without the efforts of regional and international organizations. That is why multilateralism is today a core pillar of South Africa’s foreign policy, which also underpins our belief in the strengthening of multilateralism through inter-organizational cooperation. In that regard, I wish to touch on three major areas of focus — first, the African Union-European Union-United Nations trilateral cooperation arrangement; secondly, the importance of elevating the women, peace and security agenda; and, finally, the funding of peace operations. At the third African Union-European Union-United Nations trilateral meeting, the joint communiqué stated that the parties to the trilateral cooperation arrangement intended to increase their coordination and cooperation at the political, economic and operational levels on a range of issues, including in the areas of peace and security, in particular on conflict prevention and mediation, as well as on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU). Through that trilateral arrangement we also hope to highlight the nexus between peace and security and development by promoting and ensuring sustainable growth, advancing human rights and addressing issues of climate change and migration, as well as supporting the implementation of AU and United Nations reforms. Of particular importance to South Africa is the role of women in peace and security. That is another area that was stressed by the AU-EU-United Nations meeting, with reference to initiatives to support women’s equal and meaningful participation, including leadership in political and peace processes at all levels and in peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. South Africa also appreciates the focus of the European Union on women and peace and security. Too often, women and peace and security issues are treated as soft issues. However, they are an integral part of the peace and security agenda. Mainstreaming the women and peace and security agenda into broader peace and security perspectives will have a positive impact on peacekeeping and peacebuilding and on post-conflict reconstruction and development. Allow me to make a third and final point. The adequate funding of peace missions has a significant influence on the effectiveness of how the Council prevents and responds to conflict situations. The AU-EU-United Nations leaders were cognizant of that reality. They also indicated their intention to reflect together on how to ensure the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council, consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. In that regard, we wish to acknowledge and welcome the contributions the EU makes to peacekeeping missions. That invaluable role has been most evident in Africa, where the EU has been involved in capacity-building, training and providing resources while working closely with the AU and the United Nations. South Africa, through the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, will continue to promote inter-organizational cooperation, as it fosters multilateral efficiency, openness and dialogue. We thank the EU and appreciate its efforts in that regard. We look forward to even closer collaboration among the AU, the EU and the United Nations in the future.

I thank High Representative Mogherini for joining us today and for her useful and comprehensive briefing. The United States deeply appreciates the contributions of the European Union (EU) to promoting peace, security and human rights in Europe and across the globe. The EU’s engagement and cooperation with the Security Council in particular brings an important degree of influence and resources to help deal with the challenges we collectively face. The United States considers the European Union to be one of our most valuable partners in our effort to ensure global security and prosperity. We recognize that Europe’s security and success are inextricably linked to our own. Five years after Russia’s brazen intervention in eastern Ukraine, Moscow’s aggression continues to threaten the region’s peace and security. We greatly appreciate the EU’s critical role in holding Russia accountable for its violations of international law. We join the European Union and other partners in affirming that our Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Russia fully implements its Minsk commitments. Likewise, our Crimea-focused sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns full control of the peninsula to Ukraine. Beyond Europe, the EU has played a key role in other areas of concerns to the Council, including efforts to end the crisis in Venezuela. We are pleased that 24 EU member States have already recognized Juan Guaidó as the interim President of Venezuela, and we urge other EU member States to join in formal recognition as well. We also appreciate the EU’s close partnership in Syria. As the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) works to eliminate the threat posed by ISIS there and across the globe, we look forward to working together to restore security and support good governance and economic growth in areas liberated from ISIS. Similar efforts are under way in Iraq, where the EU has dedicated approximately $30 million to humanitarian aid and an additional $20 million to development assistance. We welcome that important funding to help stabilize areas formerly under the control of ISIS. In Libya, the EU’s support of United Nations-led mediation efforts to help the country establish a stable and unified Government is also critical. We greatly appreciate the EU’s dedication of approximately $70 million there to civil society, governance, health, economic, youth and education initiatives. On its own continent, we commend the European Union for counter-terrorism successes, including sanctions implemented in January against the Iranian intelligence service and Ir3anian officials planning terrorist and assassination plots in the heart of Europe. The EU’s actions send a strong signal to the number one State sponsor of terrorism — Iran — that Europe will not stand idly by while the regime threatens its citizens. Further, we commend the EU for its support of efforts to apply maximum diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime to bring about a final, fully verified denuclearization of the peninsula. The second Trump-Kim summit serves as a reminder to us all that sustained pressure is the only way to achieve a secure and economically prosperous future for North Korea. In Africa, the EU has played a key role in conflict prevention, security assistance and peacebuilding through its support to United Nations missions and through the EU training and capacity-building missions. We commend those activities and greatly appreciate the EU’s partnership with the United Nations and the United States, especially in Mali, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Central African region. We express particular appreciation for the EU’s financial contributions of stipends to the African Union’s forces in Somalia, which have been key to significant progress on both the security and political fronts there, and we encourage the Somali security forces to take ownership of their security. We support the EU’s view of a conditions-based drawdown of AMISOM troops. In closing, the United States affirms unequivocally the EU’s importance as a crucial partner to the United States, the United Nations and particularly the Security Council in the maintenance of peace and security around the world.

First of all, I thank the French and German presidency for having convened this briefing. We also join other speakers in welcoming to the Security Council Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, whom we thank for her informative presentation on cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. The conflicts and challenges of the twenty-first century require new approaches and perspectives that reflect the growing complexity of existing armed conflicts. These levels of complexity  — which go beyond the conflict between two States and include the participation of armed groups, terrorists and organized transnational crime, by land and by sea  — make it difficult for States, which bear primary responsibility in such situations, to find sustainable and lasting solutions. That is why the cooperation and support of regional and international organizations, such as the United Nations, are crucial to building and guaranteeing peace and security. For this reason, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea recognizes the important leadership of the European Union in the resolution of conflicts and applauds its cooperation with and support for the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations not only in Europe, but also in Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. The partnership between the United Nations and the European Union on peace operations and crisis management for the period 2019-2021 reflects the determination and commitment of the two organizations to multilateralism, international law and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. In particular, we note that, among the eight priorities of this alliance, are cooperation and support for peace operations led by Africa, training and capacity-building, and facilitating contributions to peacekeeping operations. The phrase “African solutions for African problems” is focused on the need to value and use the wisdom and local experiences on the ground of African institutions, organizations and experts. In this regard, we recognize and praise the trilateral cooperation efforts among the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, and we encourage those efforts to be strengthened even more, which we would like to see culminate with the adoption of a draft resolution on United Nations financing of African Union peacekeeping operations, which is still pending in the Council. In that regard, we recall with pleasure the adoption in February of resolution 2457 (2019), on silencing arms in Africa in 2020, under the presidency of my country, Equatorial Guinea. In this important month for recognizing the need to empower and encourage the equal participation of women and youth in all spheres, and especially in peace and security activities, we also recognize in particular the priority role of the joint strategy between the United Nations and the European Union for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. The resolution of ongoing armed conflicts, the consolidation and maintenance of peace and the prevention of conflicts must be done in accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which note that all States have an obligation to respect the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States. In this regard, we commend the commitment of the European Union to sustainable development, peace and security and human rights. When respect among Member States exists and is nurtured, multilateral cooperation between the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and/ or other regional and international organizations can be strengthened in a sustainable and growing manner. This helps us all to strengthen existing efforts or to design joint efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and humanitarian crises. The need to strengthen multilateralism is central to the execution of the mandates of the Security Council and its allies, such as the European Union and the African Union. We all have something to contribute and we all have a role to play. The Security Council can count on Equatorial Guinea to assist in every possible way.

First of all, let me join others in welcoming Her Excellency Ms. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Security Council. We thank the High Representative for her very informative and comprehensive briefing. Allow me to highlight some key issues. The first is the role played by regional arrangements as first responders in the maintenance of international peace and security. As a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is a consistent and robust supporter of regional organizations. Indonesia believes that regional organizations can fundamentally shift the dynamics of the region towards peace and security. They can build bridges of understanding, they can transform relations from enmity to amity, and they can bring stability and prosperity where conflict and discord previously reigned. We believe that neighbours know best. We recognize the important role played by regional and subregional arrangements within the framework of full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all States in their respective regions. However, we have to bear in mind that regional and subregional organization must adapt to new challenges in order to remain relevant to the pursuit of international peace and security. My second points concerns the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. The challenges of the twenty-first century are too numerous and complex. Our world today is witness to great and unprecedented challenges. After listening attentively to the briefing by Ms. Mogherini, I believe that it is clear that Europe is certainly not immune to those challenges. We understand that there are no easy solutions to some of those challenges, and the European Union (EU) and other regional organizations cannot find solutions to the difficult and complex issues alone. That is where the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations come into play. We can easily find a very good example of this partnership in the African Union. The African Union, through its regional conflict prevention and management mechanism, has established itself today as an essential and credible partner of the United Nations. Indonesia attaches utmost importance to such cooperation, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. In that spirit, we initiated a meeting on this important topic during our presidency of the Council in 2007 (see S/PV.5776). We also believe in what the High Representative referred to, namely, triangular cooperation in which regional arrangements work with the United Nations and other partners. Indonesia strongly believes, that to address the collective challenges, greater emphasis must be placed upon multilateralism. In working through multilateral mechanisms, cooperation, dialogue and mediation must take precedence over unilateralism and division. It is only through investment in a stronger multilateral approach and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law that global challenges can be addressed effectively. We also share the view on the importance of working together on global issues, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals, and hope for continued support of the EU on financing for development. The EU has made important contributions to maintaining regional stability in other regions. Indonesia and ASEAN, too, have benefited from the EU role. ASEAN and the EU have survived by helping each other through many challenges. Relations between the two regions are expanding and developing progressively on the economic, political and cultural fronts. Indonesia also recognizes the work of the EU on various issues with which the Security Council is seized, such as the Iranian nuclear issue and the settlement process of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Indonesia welcomes this role. We look forward to any effort to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process as well as many other issues addressed by the High Representative in her briefing. The partnership between the United Nations and the EU is one of the major strategic partnerships with a regional organization. It includes active engagement on a number of conflicts and crises that go beyond the EU neighbourhood. Indonesia commends the excellent cooperation between the United Nations and the EU in numerous peacekeeping contexts. Today, the EU is a major actor in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Its role is becoming ever more vital to a number of United Nations peacekeeping operations, whether through financing, military contribution or political support. Currently, as the largest troop contributor to United Nations peacekeeping in the Chamber, Indonesia looks forward to the continued support of the EU, together with other partners, on United Nations peacekeeping. I am aware that the list of areas in which the EU has a substantial role to play has not been exhausted in my statement. We in ASEAN also share many of the values of the EU in the pacific settlement of disputes and in addressing conflict through dialogue, mediation and political settlement, as well as the need for neighbours to take care of neighbours. As we speak now, a team from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management is on the ground in Myanmar. In conclusion, we trust that the EU will continue to contribute to international peace and security by helping to resolve crises through diplomatic means, emphasizing peaceful settlement and on the basis of international law.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of France. At the outset, I warmly and once again thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms. Federica Mogherini, for her important briefing, which highlighted the issues surrounding the ever-closer cooperation between the Security Council and the European Union (EU) in New York and on the ground. The European commitment to multilateralism is the fruit of a history in which the European Union and the United Nations both have their roots and their raison d’être. As the High Representative said most eloquently, both organizations responded to the call of a generation that experienced the two world conflicts  — a call that still resonates every day in this Chamber: never again. No more military aggression against a sovereign country; no more displacement and decimation of entire peoples; no more civilian populations targeted by bullets and bombs. The European Union and the United Nations fundamentally share the same DNA and are today linked by a strategic partnership at its full strength. In that connection, I would like to emphasize two points. The first begins with the observation that the European Union and the United Nations are no longer limited to cooperation on a case-by-case basis; they are complementary across the entire spectrum of peace operations. Indeed, in accordance with the priorities identified in the EU-United Nations Strategic Partnership on Peace Operations and Crisis Management for the years 2019 and 2020, the European Union and the United Nations are working hand in hand for conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. As regards conflict prevention, the European Union is leading the way. The EU recently established an international contact group on Venezuela with the aim of finding a political and peaceful solution to the crisis there. In Europe, the High Representative is personally engaged, with our full support, in facilitating the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia with a view to reaching a comprehensive and definitive agreement on the normalization of relations between those two States. I could, of course, cite many other examples. The European Union also works in support of United Nations mediation. As the High Representative again recalled, in the case of Syria the European Union has pledged not to finance reconstruction until a credible political solution, under United Nations auspices and on the basis of all provisions of resolution 2254 (2015), is in place. In the field of peacekeeping operations, the States members of the Union contribute at all levels. In terms of budget, their combined contribution amounts to 32 per cent of the peacekeeping budget. The scale of that contribution, which is by far the largest, deserves to be better understood and better appreciated, in particular at a time when some are reluctant to honour their due commitments. On the ground in Mali, Libya, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Kosovo and the Middle East, European civilian and military missions are deployed under the Common Security and Defence Policy, alongside peacekeeping operations or special political missions. Some of these European missions now play a central role in responding to threats to peace, such as Operation Atalante, which combats piracy off the coast of Somalia and provides protection for World Food Programme ships. Those missions are also essential in supporting security sector reform. I am thinking of in particular — Ms. Mogherini mentioned them — the European Union training missions in Mali and the Central African Republic, which are complementary to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. Through its African Peace Facility, the European Union also participates in the funding of African peace and security operations, in particular, as was said, the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel). In the area of peacebuilding, the European Union consistently supports United Nations efforts through projects that are where development and security issues intersect, in full alignment with the Secretary- General’s priorities. It is even one of the European Union’s strengths or assets. For example, in Colombia, the EU supports the reintegration of ex-combatants alongside the United Nations verification mission. In many countries, the European Union and its member States are among the main international donors. That trend is expected to continue to increase, since the EU adopted a record budget of €1.6 billion for humanitarian aid in 2019. The exceptional nature of that partnership and the successes seen over the past 20 years should collectively encourage us to continue with the progress made on the common priorities of the two organizations in the context of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. That is my second point. Progress must be made in particular on the women and peace and security agenda, which is one of our main priorities, and more generally on all issues related to human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as international humanitarian law. As underlined in the EU strategic approach to the women, peace and security agenda, that is not a priority among others but an approach that should permeate all initiatives common to our two organizations, as my German colleague clearly said earlier. We also fully support the development of trilateral cooperation among the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union, as mentioned by the High Representative at the beginning of the meeting. That trilateral cooperation is expected to play a fundamental role, particularly in peacekeeping. I am thinking in particular of support for the scaling up and sustainable and predictable funding of African peace operations, which, in our view, are essential given the opportunity for such African peace operations to improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping. We would also mention the G5 Sahel Joint Force, in which the United Nations and the European Union play a key role as part of the technical agreement on MINUSMA operational and logistical support to the Joint Force. That trilateral cooperation is also evident in the area of migration. Since its establishment at the EU-African Union (AU) summit in Abidjan in November 2017, the EU-AU-United Nations task force has enabled more than 37,000 migrants stranded in Libya to return to their countries of origin. The conflict-prevention tools available to us also need to be strengthened. I am thinking in particular of mediation, early warning systems, security sector reform and the close coordination of political messages. The European Union and the United Nations share the same commitment to multilateralism not only as an overall vision but also in their daily practices. Apart from its role as a regional organization, that is one of the elements or pillars of the current international order. On the basis of that common vision of conflict management, we, as members of the Security Council, have, I believe, the duty to make the most of that close relationship and Europe’s commitment to strong multilateralism. In conclusion, in view of the High Representative’s experience in mediation, I would like her opinion on how the Security Council can effectively support mediation processes in which the European Union is engaged. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I again give the floor to High Representative Ms. Federica Mogherini to respond to comments and questions raised.

It would be difficult for me to find the most appropriate words to describe the scope, depth and importance of the cooperation partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations following what you, Mr. President, have just said. (spoke in English) I will take a few minutes first to thank all members for having underlined from different perspectives and angles the quality and relevance of the cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations. I will also not overlook the questions that were raised very briefly. First, with regard to women and peace and security, it is an essential element of the EU-United Nations cooperation. It is also an essential element of our own European Union security agenda. I fully agree with our South African colleague that it is not a soft issue but a security one that is at the core of not only our military activities, first and foremost, but also our mediation and diplomatic work. We have a common initiative on regional acceleration of the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The EU and United Nations promote together the elimination of sexual abuse in our peacekeeping operations. That is a part of the work in which we are engaged. The EU and United Nations jointly promote the priorities of the United Nations global networks of national focal points on women and peace and security. Most importantly and most practically, we have started the first pilot engagement in the Central African Republic, which is currently under way with a joint EU- United Nations engagement in crisis management with women and peace and security as a key element. I would like to add that beyond the concrete work that is ongoing, we have a common EU-United Nations effort to promote the role of women in mediation and negotiation processes. In particular, I would mention the support that we give to women in Syria and Yemen in their respective negotiation processes. I will be pleased to be together with the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria tomorrow in Brussels, together with some women from Syria, in support of their views and to work for peace and reconciliation in their country. Those are just a few examples of our common engagement on that very important agenda. The same is true when it comes to crisis prevention and mediation. That was a question raised by the Permanent Representative of Germany. The European Union and the United Nations already do a great deal together. First and foremost, we took a recent decision to establish a high-level dialogue on conflict prevention, as both organizations have upgraded that to be our top political priority. We are looking at conducting joint conflict analysis, which is the basis for early warning systems and early action that can be coordinated on the ground. As the European Union, we already provide expertise and capacity to the United Nations mediation teams. Every time I travel and meet the United Nations teams involved in mediation on the ground — I am thinking of Tripoli or elsewhere, from Yemen to Syria and other places — I also meet experts and people from the European Union institutions to which we contribute United Nations teams to strengthen capacity as well as to create a link between us. The next step that I believe could be of interest is the issue of the EU-African Union-United Nations triangular cooperation agenda. I think that the three organizations could benefit from discussing the idea of undertaking conflict prevention activities together. As we know, Africa is a continent that offers many different fields of conflict-prevention activities. But as you, Mr. President, rightly mentioned, our conflict- prevention work goes beyond that because whenever we act in the Balkans, Latin America, Asia, Africa or Europe itself in support of political processes and multilateralism we undertake conflict prevention. I think we do that even when we do not realize it. The most successful conflict-prevention activity is the one that never gets to finding out that there was a conflict to de-escalate. Let me underline a few other points that were raised by some members. I should like to underline the shared importance we attach to the issues raised by the Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire — investing in young people and our common efforts to offer them not only educational opportunities but also high-quality jobs. This is not only an effort that is being carried out by our African friends but is really the basic DNA of our common agenda for the truly equal partnership we have established with all our partners in Africa through the African Union as well as through subregional organizations and bilaterally with various countries. I would also underline the importance, as mentioned by the representative of Kuwait, of the EU- League of Arab States coordination. The summit we held in Egypt was indeed a historic moment. We have a common history and agenda in our region, starting from the two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the need to preserve Jerusalem as the future capital of the two States and also our common efforts to stabilize Iraq and to work on the reconstruction and stabilization of the country. I could never thank Kuwait enough for the role that it is playing in the region — in particular, as its representative mentioned, as the co-Chair of the various conferences to which we have contributed. Kuwait can always count on us not only to pledge but also to deliver on our pledges, be it in the case of Iraq, Syria or with respect to the Rohingya issue. Let me close by making two last points. The representative of Belgium asked me if I saw any opportunities to develop triangular cooperation similar to that which we have with the United Nations and the African Union and other regions. I believe the Association of Southeast Asian Nations could be an excellent candidate for the next experiment in this respect, because the European Union is already cooperating very closely with it. I wish also to thank Indonesia for all the investments that it is making in this respect. As the Council is aware, the European Union will always invest all its political and financial capital, which is not insignificant, in supporting the strengthening of regional and subregional organizations. We look forward to developing a similar kind of partnership with regional and subregional Latin American organizations, because also across the Atlantic, let us say, from New York on south, we have a very deep, comprehensive and strategically important cooperation that I am sure could be very valuable in strengthening multilateral frameworks in the United Nations. Last but not least, I would underline what the representative of Peru said and thank him for that. It is true that the European Union has been first and foremost an example of perseverance and a symbol of multilateralism and cooperation. We have learned from our own mistakes that cooperation is the way forward, and I think that sometimes perseverance, even stubbornness, is what we need in these times. The European Union will always be a solid and reliable partner for the United Nations and for its Security Council. Let me conclude on a personal note. This will be my last briefing to the Security Council, as our mandate expires at the end of this year. It has been a pleasure for me to work with the Council and its members over these past five years. I can assure the Council that whatever happens in and around the European Union, it will always find in our Union the strongest and most reliable partner ever for the United Nations system.

I thank most sincerely the High Representative, Ms. Mogherini, for being here with us this morning, for her further statement just delivered and for the clarifications she provided. We wish her the greatest happiness and success.