EU/UN Partnership: A strategic cooperation to build a better world

The EU / UN Partnership is one of the most important partnerships between international organizations. As the first global donor of development aid, the EU has a greater responsibility in the area of aid to poorer countries. Since its creation, the European Union (EU) has always regarded the United Nations (UN) as a strategic partner, building together several programs to support and aid developing countries.

The EU/UN Partnership is essentially based on three main areas: Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development / Humanitarian Aid (granting funds to various UN agencies and programs, especially UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF). In this sense, the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are documents which formed the whole basis of this cooperation. A cooperation that began early
The EU has maintained a permanent office in New York since 1964, starting with an Information office of the Commission. Since 1974 the office has served as the Official Delegation of the European Commission to the United Nations. In 1974 the European Economic Community already had observer status with the UN. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Commission Delegation became the "Delegation of the European Union” which is under the authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Catherine Ashton. Around 1,300 meetings take place each year in New York between the EU and the UN, where various subjects are discussed. The US also grants funds to various UN agencies, especially the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). In 2003 the EU and the UN decided to consolidate and strengthen their partnership, by signing a joint statement entitled "The EU and the UN: the choice of multilateralism". In the same year, they also signed the Joint Declaration for Cooperation in Crisis Management.

The EU-UN partnership includes aspects relating to humanitarian assistance, development aid (57% of total aid), and peacekeeping operations (8% of the troops come from EU Member States. The EU amount allocated in peacekeeping operations, represents 40% of the funds for these missions). In 2009, the EU was present in approximately 100 countries through a variety of support programs. In all, the EU has provided approximately €1.2 billion for the strategic partnership with the UN system.

The action of the EU/UN partnership is divided into:
- Humanitarian assistance
- Conflict and natural disasters
- Crisis prevention
- Fight against hunger
- Just and democratic elections

Humanitarian aid occupies a vast space in the EU-UN partnership. A paper published by the European Commission entitled "European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid” was recently published which recognized the principles and laws that govern humanitarian aid and pointed to the central coordinating role undertaken by the UN. Within this theme the EU-UN partnership puts particular emphasis on helping countries which are emerging from conflict or affected by natural disasters. Recently, the EU allocated approximately €140 million to help flood victims in Pakistan, and has an ongoing (2007-2010) development aid program for Pakistan amounting to €400 million. At the same time, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 is a fundamental aspect which continues throughout this program implementation.

With the mark of the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2010, the EU has also put particular emphasis on the role of women in conflict by encouraging its Member States to take on strategic National Action Plans to improve womens actions, and providing help and protection to women and girls. The EU also has missions on the ground in 44 countries affected by conflicts, for example: Chad, Uganda, Burundi and Sudan. In the context of the MDGs 2015 the EU pays particular attention to combating hunger and improving maternal health. In 2009 the EU has provided food aid to some 14 million people in 50 countries. In terms of health, the EU provided assistance to about 8 million children in order to ensure maternal health and to provide those most in need. Similarly, and inserted into the MDG 7, the EU-UN partnership holds several programs on the ground to ensure for the construction of water points and drinking water testing kits and to prevent problems during pregnancy and after childbirth. Regarding the environment, the partnership sponsors the implementation of strategic plans in 22 countries in order to protect wildlife and rural communities.

The EU also advocates the adoption of a post-Kyoto treaty on climate change. The EU-UN partnership is also struggling to build democracy and good governance in poor countries or countries emerging from conflict. In 2009, 22 countries benefited from the partnership’s assistance through receiving aid in the preparation and monitoring of elections.

The EU-UN partnership is of great importance because it enables assistance to millions of people around the world. As the first global donor of development aid and humanitarian relief measures, the UN looks with great satisfaction to the strengthening of relations with the EU in order to try to reach the MDGs by 2015 and help in the creation of a fairer world. The recent entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty - which creates the position of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - promises to be an element that will strengthen and broaden cooperation between the EU and UN.

Earlier this year the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, met with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in order to directly discuss the deepening of the partnership. Similarly, the visit of Ban Ki-moon to the European Parliament shows the importance given to the partnership between these two organizations.
Picture : UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe