  | |
| United Nations membership | |
|---|---|
| Membership | Observer (enhanced) |
| Since | 1974 (enhanced: 2011) |
| Former name(s) | European Communities |
| UNSC seat | Ineligible |
| Ambassador | Olof Skoog |
The European Union (EU) has permanent observer status at the United Nations (UN) since 1974, and gained enhanced participation rights in 2011. The EU itself does not have voting rights but it is represented alongside its 27 members, one of which, France, is a permanent member of the Security Council.
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Transcription
Where, is the European Union? Obviously here somewhere, but much like the the European continent itself, which has an unclear boundary, the European Union also has some fuzzy edges to it. To start, the official members of the European Union are, in decreasing order of population: * Germany * France * The United Kingdom * Italy * Spain * Poland * Romania * The Kingdom of the Netherlands * Greece * Belgium * Portugal * The Czech Republic * Hungary * Sweden * Austria * Bulgaria * Denmark * Slovakia * Finland * Ireland * Croatia * Lithuania * Latvia * Slovenia * Estonia * Cyprus * Luxembourg * Malta The edges of the EU will probably continue to expand further out as there are other countries in various stages of trying to become a member. How exactly the European Union works is hideously complicated and a story for another time, but for this video you need know only three things: 1. Countries pay membership dues and 2. Vote on laws they all must follow and 3. Citizens of member countries are automatically European Union citizens as well This last means that if you're a citizen of any of these countries you are free to live and work or retire in any of the others. Which is nice especially if you think your country is too big or too small or too hot or too cold. The European Union gives you options. By the way, did you notice how all three of these statements have asterisks attached to this unhelpful footnote? Well, get used to it: Europe loves asterisks that add exceptions to complicated agreements. These three, for example, point us toward the first bit of border fuzziness with Norway, Iceland and little Liechtenstein. None of which are in the European Union but if you're a EU citizen you can live in these countries and Norwegians, Icelanders, or Liechtensteiner(in)s can can live in yours. Why? In exchange for the freedom of movement of people they have to pay membership fees to the European Union -- even though they aren't a part of it and thus don't get a say its laws that they still have to follow. This arrangement is the European Economic Area and it sounds like a terrible deal, were it not for that asterisk which grants EEA but not EU members a pass on some areas of law notably farming and fishing -- something a country like Iceland might care quite a lot about running their own way. Between the European Union and the European Economic Area the continent looks mostly covered, with the notable exception of Switzerland who remains neutral and fiercely independent, except for her participation in the Schengen Area. If you're from a country that keeps her borders extremely clean and / or well-patrolled, the Schengen Area is a bit mind-blowing because it's an agreement between countries to take a 'meh' approach to borders. In the Schengen Area international boundaries look like this: no border officers or passport checks of any kind. You can walk from Lisbon to Tallinn without identification or need to answer the question: "business or pleasure?". For Switzerland being part of Schengen but not part of the European Union means that non-swiss can check in any time they like, but they can never stay. This koombaya approach to borders isn't appreciated by everyone in the EU: most loudly, the United Kingdom and Ireland who argue that islands are different. Thus to get onto these fair isles, you'll need a passport and a good reason. Britannia's reluctance to get fully involved with the EU brings us to the next topic: money. The European Union has its own fancy currency, the Euro used by the majority, but not all of the European Union members. This economic union is called the Eurozone and to join a country must first reach certain financial goals -- and lying about reaching those goals is certainly not something anyone would do. Most of the non-Eurozone members when they meet the goals, will ditch their local currency in favor of the Euro but three of them Denmark, Sweden and, of course, the United Kingdom, have asterisks attracted to the Euro sections of the treaty giving them a permanent out-out. And weirdly, four tiny European countries Andorra, San Marino, Monaco & Vatican City have an asterisk giving them the reverse: the right print and use Euros as their money, despite not being in the European Union at all. So that's the big picture: there's the EU, which makes all the rules, the Eurozone inside it with a common currency, the European Economic Area outside of it where people can move freely and the selective Schengen, for countries who think borders just aren't worth the hassle. As you can see, there's some strange overlaps with these borders, but we're not done talking about complications by a long shot one again, because empire. So Portugal and Spain have islands from their colonial days that they've never parted with: these are the Madeira and Canary Islands are off the coast of Africa and the Azores well into the Atlantic. Because these islands are Spanish and Portuguese they're part of the European Union as well. Adding a few islands to the EU's borders isn't a big deal until you consider France: the queen of not-letting go. She still holds onto a bunch of islands in the Caribbean, Reunion off the coast of Madagascar and French Guiana in South America. As far as France is concerned, these are France too, which single handedly extends the edge-to-edge distance of the European Union across a third of Earth's circumference. Collectively, these bits of France, Spain and Portugal are called the Outermost Regions -- and they're the result of the simple answer to empire: just keep it. On the other hand, there's the United Kingdom, the master of maintaining complicated relationships with her quasi-former lands -- and she's by no means alone in this on such an empire-happy continent. The Netherlands and Denmark and France (again) all have what the European Union calls Overseas Territories: they're not part of the European Union, instead they're a bottomless well of asterisks due to their complicated relationships with both with the European Union and their associated countries which makes it hard to say anything meaningful about them as a group but... in general European Union law doesn't apply to these places, though in general the people who live there are European Union citizens because in general they have the citizenship of their associated country, so in general they can live anywhere in the EU they want but in general other European Union citizens can't freely move to these territories. Which makes these places a weird, semipermeable membrane of the European Union proper and the final part we're going to talk about in detail even though there are still many, more one-off asterisks you might stumble upon, such as: the Isle of Man or those Spanish Cities in North Africa or Gibraltar, who pretends to be part of Southwest England sometimes, or that region in Greece where it's totally legal to ban women, or Saba & friends who are part of the Netherlands and so should be part of the EU, but aren't, or the Faeroe Islands upon which while citizens of Denmark live they lose their EU citizenship, and on and on it goes. These asterisks almost never end, but this video must.
Representation
The EU holds an enhanced observer status at the UN. While normal observers such as the Arab League and the Red Cross are not allowed to speak before Member States at the UN General Assembly, the EU was granted the right to speak among representatives of major groups on 3 May 2011. These include: the right to speak in debates among representatives of major groups, before individual states, to submit proposals and amendments, the right of reply, to raise points of order and to circulate documents. However, the EU does not have voting rights nor the right to sit on the Security Council.[1][2]
The EU is represented by the President of the European Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and the EU delegations.[3] European Council President Herman Van Rompuy made the EU's inaugural speech to the general assembly on 22 September 2011.[4][5][6] Prior to the granting of its speaking rights, the EU was represented by the state holding the rotating Council presidency.[7]
The EU is party to some 50 international UN agreements as the only non-state participant. It is a full participant on the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization. It has also been a full participant at certain UN summits, such as the Rio and Kyoto summits on climate change, including hosting a summit. Furthermore, the EU delegation maintains close relations with the UN's aid bodies.[8]
The EU holds its observer membership alongside the full memberships of all its 27 member states, one of which, France, is a veto-holding member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).[7] Furthermore, where the EU has a defined position on a UNSC agenda item, those states shall request the High Representative to be invited to present the EU's position. This however does not impact on the right of those states to form their foreign policy (stated in Declaration 14).[9]
Head of delegation
| Delegation head | Nationality | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Stavros Lambrinidis | Greek | January 2024 to present |
| Olof Skoog | Swedish | December 2019 to December 2023 |
| João Vale de Almeida | Portuguese | October 2015 to November 2019 |
| Thomas Mayr-Harting[10] | Austrian | October 2011 to October 2015 |
| Pedro Serrano (acting)[11] | Spanish | January 2010 to October 2011 |
| Fernando Valenzuela[12] | Spanish | 2004 to 2009 |
| John Richardson[13] | British | May 2001 to 2004 |
Coordination
The EU coordinates its voting within the General Assembly's six main committees and other bodies and agencies such as the Economic and Social Council, UN agencies (such as the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency). To this end, more than 1000 internal EU coordination meetings are held at the UN to develop a common EU stance. Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union also stipulates that EU members on the Security Council must act in concert and foster the interests of the EU.[7] The EU has also spoken with one voice at all major UN conferences held since the 1990s.[14]
Since the beginning of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, coordinating of EU voting has risen from 86% in 1991–92 to 97% in 1998–99. As of 2007, it has remained around this level, with the 2004 acceding countries already voting in line with the EU before they joined.[7] Of the 15–25% of resolutions actually voted on in the General Assembly, the EU votes unanimously on average four-fifths of the time, including on controversial topics such as the Middle East (achieving unanimity on nearly every occasion since the 1990s).[14]
| Year | 91-92
|
92-93
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93-94
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94-95
|
95-96
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96-97
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97-98
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98-99
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99-00
|
00-01
|
01-02
|
02-03
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU cohesion | 86% | 91% | 91% | 92% | 93% | 96% | 96% | 97% | 95% | 96% | 96% | 97% |
| Overall UN cohesion | 70% | 69% | 76% | 74% | 72% | 70% | 73% | 75% | 76% | 76% | 76% | 78% |
However, in October 2011, a row between the United Kingdom and its fellow EU members reached a head as the UK had blocked more than 70 EU statements to UN committees. The row was over the wording used; the statements read they were on behalf of the EU, rather than "EU and its member states" as the UK insisted. The UK's actions were intended to stop the perceived drift towards a common EU foreign policy and were insisted upon by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. While purely symbolic, the issue has become a big deal for both sides, although the UK government has been criticised for using valuable political capital and good will on something that will yield, even if successful, no real gain.[15]
When EU member states temporarily serve on the UN Security Council they can promote security interests of other European countries, and they can use their elevated influence to secure side-payments from the EU budget.[16] Consequently, EU members are more successful in bargaining over the EU budget while they hold a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council than they are at other times.[16]
Contribution
Individual member states, and not the EU as a whole, pay dues. The sum of the contributions of EU member states provided 30.4% of the regular UN budget in 2016[17] (this is compared with the US at 22% and Japan at 9.7%).[18] EU member states also collectively provide 33.2%[17] of the funding for UN peacekeeping missions and around half of the budgets for UN funds and programmes. Almost a third of the European Commission's aid budget goes to the UN.[7] EU member states collectively provided 13.5% of peacekeeping personnel (11,140 men and women) in 2006.
The EU also operates its own missions to support the UN, such as the EU mission in the Congo to support the UN peacekeepers there. The EU also established and funds the African Peace Facility.[7]
The EU supports the UN's values of freedom, democracy and human rights. The preamble to the EU's treaty cites the UN Charter's human rights articles and is very active on the UN Human Rights Council. The EU was also instrumental in setting up the system of UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights issues.[7]
History
Western European nations were long reluctant to cooperate within the UN.[19] On 11 October 1974, the UN General Assembly granted observer status to the European Economic Community (EEC) represented by the European Commission representation in New York City. It was the first non-state entity to be granted observer status and gave it participation rights, particularly in the Economic and Social Council: the EEC operated a common commercial policy from very early on and in such matters the European Commission represented the EU, in others the Council presidency did.[8]
Despite being an observer, the EU joined several treaties and gained full participation in a number of UN bodies (see representation above) and in 1991, it was the first non-state body to be a full voting member in a UN agency: the Food and Agriculture Organization. In 2001, it was the first non-state entity to host a summit, the UN Conference of the Least Developed Countries in Brussels, Belgium.[8]
When the EU was created, the EEC was renamed the European Community and made one of the EU's three pillars. The Community, not the EU as a whole, inherited the EEC's international role and thus between 1993 and 2009 the EU was represented as the European Community at the UN. Since December 2009, with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union as a whole has taken on the role and obligations the European Community previously exercised.[20] The European Commission and Council delegations to the UN in New York City have also been merged.[21][22]
Following the enactment of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU proposed to the General Assembly that it receive the same representation rights (but not voting rights) as full members. However, the General Assembly voted down its initial proposal in 2010 due to a bloc led by Australia (who abstained in protest at the speed of the proposal and the assumption it would pass) and another led by the Caribbean Community (demanding the same rights for other regional blocs). After a year of consultations, the EU's resolution was passed with an amendment allowing other regional blocs the same rights:
Following the request on behalf of a regional organisation which has observer status in the general assembly and whose member states have agreed arrangements that allow that organisation's representatives to speak on behalf of the organisation and its member states, then the general assembly may adopt modalities for the participation of that regional organisation's representatives.[1][2]
Future
The EU holds an observer seat on the executive board for funds and programmes, where the European Commission is a big donor and Mark Malloch Brown, former UN deputy secretary general, believes the EU will gradually be represented more and more, starting with the aid departments, eventually leading to the EU taking up a seat on the Security Council.[23]
However the extension of the EU's role at the UN is politically sensitive among some EU members, particularly the United Kingdom during its membership, who did not want to risk reaching a point where they would have had to give up their permanent seat on the Security Council.[1] This is alongside EU member Germany requesting its own Security Council seat,[24] and is vocally backed therein by the UK and France.
See also
- France and the United Nations
- Germany and the United Nations
- Spain and the United Nations
- Luxembourg and the United Nations
- Poland and the United Nations
- Romania and the United Nations
- Sweden and the United Nations
References
- ^ a b c "EU reaches out for new powers at United Nations". Euobserver.com. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b "EU wins new powers at UN, transforming global body". Euobserver.com. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "United Nations Official Document". Un.org. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "This WEEK in the European Union". Euobserver.com. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "At UN, van Rompuy hails EU's global role - Public Service Europe". Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- ^ "Van Rompuy addresses UN General Assembly". YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "How the European Union and the United Nations cooperate" (PDF). United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b c "EU@UN - Description of the European Union Delegation in New York". Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Research Briefings - The European Union at the United Nations". Parliament.uk. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "EU@UN - EU HR Ashton appoints new Head of EU Delegation in New York and 24 other Heads of EU Delegations". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "European Union @ United Nations". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "EU@UN - Biography of Ambassador Valenzuela, Head of Delegation in New York (2004-2009)". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "JOHN B RICHARDSON".
- ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Julian Borger, Diplomatic editor (20 October 2011). "EU anger over British stance on UN statements". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b Mikulaschek, Christoph (2018). "Issue linkage across international organizations: Does European countries' temporary membership in the UN Security Council increase their receipts from the EU budget?". Review of International Organizations. 13 (4): 491–518. doi:10.1007/s11558-017-9289-9. S2CID 158905406.
- ^ a b "The European Union at the United Nations". EEAS. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ Rakesh Dubbudu (13 September 2016). "How much do various countries contribute to the UN Budget?". factly.in. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ Norbert Götz. “Western Europeans and Others: The Making of Europe at the United Nations.” Alternatives 33 (2008) 3: 359–381.
- ^ "EU@UN - About the EU at the UN". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "EU commission 'embassies' granted new powers". Euobserver.com. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "EU@UN - About the EU at the UN". Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "EU heading for single UN seat, UN official says". Euobserver.com. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "German Hopes for Security Council Seat Get Boost | Germany | DW.COM | 15.03.2008". Dw-world.de. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
External links
- Official websites
- European Union @ United Nations: Partnership in Action, Official website of the EU delegation to the UN
- United Nations in Brussels: Partnering with the European Union, Official website of the UN delegation to the EU
- Reports on cooperation
- Improving Lives: Partnership between the United Nations and the European Union in 2010, United Nations in Brussels
- Gourlay, Catriona (2009) EU–UN Cooperation in Peacebuilding Partners in Practice? UNIDIR
- The EU at the UN - Overview, European Union delegation to the UN
- How the European Union and the United Nations cooperate Archived 20 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe
- Other documents
- Resolution A/RES/65/276 adopted by the General Assembly: Participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations, United Nations 10 May 2011
This page was last edited on 29 April 2024, at 16:43