The European Commission published a “Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the European Council on strengthening the EU’s contribution to rules-based multilateralism” on February 17. Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, tweeted the same day, “Why is multilateralism important? Because it works. Complex global challenges can only be effectively addressed by working together. With our new agenda, we present the EU’s contribution to a reinvigorated, rules-based multilateralism fit for the 21st century.”
In response, the EU External Action Service (EEAS) said, “Our world is in a period of transition, characterized by major changes in geopolitical and economic forces. Emerging players are creating new dynamics. Relations between major powers are increasingly confrontational and unilateralist. Competing perspectives and agendas are at play in the global order, challenging established multilateral rules and organizations. However, growing global challenges call for more multilateral governance and rules-based international cooperation.”
A statement to this effect issued by the European Commission on Wednesday reads, “Today, the Commission and the High Representative presented a new strategy to strengthen the EU’s contribution to rules-based multilateralism. The joint communiqué sets out the EU’s expectations and ambitions for the multilateral system. Today’s proposal proposes to use all the tools at the EU’s disposal, including its extensive political, diplomatic and financial support, to promote global peace and security, defend human rights and international law, and promote multilateral solutions to global challenges.”
Borelli said, “Multilateralism is important because it works. But we can’t just be ‘multilateralists.’ At a Time of growing skepticism, we must demonstrate the benefits and relevance of the multilateral system. We will build stronger, more diverse and inclusive partnerships to lead its modernization and shape a global response to the challenges of the 21st century, some of which threaten the survival of humanity.” EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen also said, “The EU has been and will continue to be the best ally of multilateralism and its institutions. However, a more complex global environment requires us to be more united, coherent and focused, and to make better use of the collective strengths of our European team. This new strategy sets out our ambition for inclusive multilateralism, our strong commitment to reinvigorating multilateralism, and it will be supported by concrete action.”
The statement refers to “defining and preserving the EU’s priorities and values in the multilateral system. the challenges of the 21st century call for more, not less, multilateral governance and rules-based international cooperation. The EU has identified clear strategic priorities on issues that no country can face alone: peace and security, human rights and the rule of law, sustainable development, public health or climate. Now, the EU needs to advance these priorities multilaterally with a strategic approach to ensure a safer world and a sustainable, inclusive global recovery.” The statement said, “The EU must strengthen its leadership to ‘act as one’ and ‘succeed as one.’ To this end, the EU will advance more effective coordination mechanisms around common priorities and make better use of its collective strengths, including building on the ‘Team Europe’ approach. The EU’s democratic and unique regulatory strengths are assets to help build a better world, while the EU’s security and defense structures support global efforts to maintain, sustain and build international peace and security.”
The EU also proposes to modernize, “the multilateral system. To ensure that the global multilateral system is ‘fit for purpose’ to meet today’s challenges, the EU will continue to support the UN Secretary-General’s reform efforts. The EU will promote the modernization of key institutions such as the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. The EU will also take the lead in developing new global norms and creating platforms for cooperation in areas such as taxation, the digital sphere or artificial intelligence.” The EU also said, “Strengthening Europe through partnerships In order to change the multilateral environment, we need a new generation of partnerships. The EU will build new alliances with third countries, strengthen cooperation with multilateral and regional organisations and other stakeholders, in particular with countries that share the EU’s democratic values, and work with other countries to find common ground on an issue-by-issue basis. The EU will support partner countries to engage more effectively in the multilateral system and ensure that bilateral commitments with partners are systematically followed up to advance multilateral objectives. The EU’s goal is to build a more inclusive multilateralism. It is also important to work with civil society as well as the private sector, society and other stakeholders.”
The EU noted that in the future the EC and High Representative Borrelli will ask the European Parliament and the European Council to endorse this approach and to cooperate on these priorities. On the background to the release of this document, the EU said, “To successfully address global crises, threats and challenges, the international community needs an efficient multilateral system based on universal rules and values. The United Nations remains at the heart of the multilateral system. The EU and its member states are the largest financial contributors to the UN system, the Bretton Woods institutions and many other international forums. They provide almost a quarter of the financial contributions to the UN funds and programs, while EU member states also provide almost a quarter of the UN regular budget. At the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, EU member states have more than a quarter of the voting rights and nearly a third of the financial contributions come from the EU and its member states.”
The statement said, “The EU works closely with other international organizations and entities, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Trade Organization, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Finally, the EU seeks closer cooperation with other regional and multinational groups such as the African Union, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to address common challenges and to work together at the international level.”
Recent Comments