Compte rendu in extenso des débats

Lundi 23 novembre 2015 - Strasbourg

17. Le rôle de l'Union européenne au sein des Nations unies (brève présentation)

  Przewodniczący. – Kolejnym punktem porządku dnia jest debata nad sprawozdaniem sporządzonym przez Paavo Väyrynena w imieniu Komisji Spraw Zagranicznych w sprawie roli UE w ONZ – w jaki sposób lepiej osiągać cele polityki zagranicznej UE (2015/2104(INI)) (A8-0308/2015).

  Paavo Väyrynen, rapporteur.– Mr President, my report includes several proposals for strengthening the role of the United Nations system in global governance and for improving the possibilities of the European Union and its Member States to better achieve our foreign policy goals inside the system. The report paves the way for an annual process in which Parliament can address the global challenges in a deep and comprehensive way. For me personally, the most important achievements in this report are the recommendations on the substantial strengthening of the economic, social, environmental and developmental dimensions of the UN system.

According to the report, this must be done in the first instance by means of structural and functional reform of the Economic and Social Council, but we also call on the EU institutions and Member States to consider the possibility of strengthening their role in the ECOSOC by developing it into a Sustainable Development Council.

My draft was more ambitious. I wanted to give the Sustainable Development Council the same kind of status as the Security Council in dealing with all areas of global cooperation other than security. I proposed that the Council would have permanent members: the European Union, the USA, Japan and the BRICS countries and rotating ones. These ideas got a lot of support in the negotiations, but not enough in order to be accepted. This basic idea is not a new one: it was originally launched in the Rio Conference in 1992. It was then watered down by establishing only the Commission on Sustainable Development under the ECOSOC. Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed, in a speech to the World Economic Council in Davos in 2009, the creation of a UN Economic Council according to the model of the UN Security Council. I have in mind a council with a wider mandate covering all economic, social, environmental and human development in the world.

When Barack Obama started his term as President of the United States with Hillary Clinton as his Foreign Secretary, he introduced the idea of ‘three Ds’ in US Foreign and Security Policy: development was lifted to an equal footing with defence and diplomacy. Now we should do the same in the European Union.

In the negotiations on my EU—UN report, I felt that those who emphasise the importance of the security dimension of the United Nations were reluctant to strengthen the other parts of the UN system. I even heard the argument that they do not belong to the area of foreign policy, even if they have a prominent position in the foreign and security policy goals section in the EU Treaty and development has a more central role in strengthening security all over the world.

In the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), a report is going to be drafted on the global security strategy of the EU. I think that we should pay a lot of attention to development issues also in that report. In the case of the EU, the defence pillar cannot have a dominant role. We have to rely more on diplomacy and development.

Pytania z sali

  Νότης Μαριάς ( ECR).– Κύριε Πρόεδρε, συζητούμε για το ρόλο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης στο πλαίσιο του ΟΗΕ, που ως γνωστόν στοχεύει στην προστασία των ανθρώπινων δικαιωμάτων και στην προώθηση της οικονομικής και κοινωνικής ανάπτυξης. Ωστόσο, η ανάπτυξη και η καταπολέμηση της φτώχειας χρειάζονται πόρους, οι οποίοι στις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες και στις χώρες της ευρωπαϊκής περιφέρειας δεν υπάρχουν, αφού η εξόφληση των κρατικών χρεών πηγαίνει στους τοκογλύφους δανειστές και έτσι έχει στεγνώσει η οικονομική ζωή των χωρών αυτών.

Για το λόγο αυτό πρέπει να τεθεί σε ισχύ η απόφαση της Γενικής Συνέλευσης του ΟΗΕ που τον περασμένο Σεπτέμβριο αποφάσισε διαδικασίες για την αναδιάρθρωση και τη διαγραφή των κρατικών χρεών των αναπτυσσόμενων χωρών. Την απόφαση, όμως, αυτή της Γενικής Συνέλευσης του ΟΗΕ δεν υπερψήφισε καμία χώρα μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, ούτε καν οι υπερχρεωμένες χώρες του ευρωπαϊκού Νότου, καθώς ακολούθησαν τις εντολές των Βρυξελλών, της τρόικας και των διεθνών δανειστών.

Αποδείχθηκε λοιπόν ότι η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση χύνει κροκοδείλια δάκρυα για τον ΟΗΕ και το μόνο που την ενδιαφέρει είναι τα στενά οικονομικά της συμφέροντα και τίποτε άλλο.

  Ivan Jakovčić (ALDE). – Gospodine predsjedniče, prije svega želim protestirati. Neprimjereno je da ovaj izvještaj i ulogu Europske unije u Ujedinjenim narodima raspravljamo kao kratko izvješće. Danas smo raspravljali o našim odnosima u Svjetskoj trgovačkoj organizaciji, pristupu Ekvadoru našem Sporazumu s Kolumbijom i Peruom, raspravljali smo o našem odnosu s Vijetnamom, a o našem odnosu s Ujedinjenim narodima raspravljamo u okviru kratkog izvješća. To je neprimjereno. Neprihvatljivo.

Uloga Europske unije unutar Ujedinjenih naroda mora biti prije svega pokušaj da uvijek dobijemo jedan glas, da nastupimo kao jedan glas, da Europa bude vjerodostojna, da Europa bude jaka u Ujedinjenim narodima i da nametne svoje teme jer naravno da nije samo sigurnost tema Ujedinjenih naroda i ne može biti samo sigurnost već to mora biti i razvoj i socijalna komponenta i zaštita okoliša. Klimatske promjene, dovoljno je samo to reći, što to znači kada govorimo o zaštiti okoliša.

  João Ferreira (GUE/NGL). – Senhor Presidente, Senhor Comissário, é preciso uma leitura muito segmentada e muito enviesada da Carta das Nações Unidas para considerar – como faz este relatório – que a União Europeia se revê nos seus princípios e valores. Que dizer, por exemplo, da agressão militar contra países soberanos e independentes, como o Iraque, a Líbia, a Síria, ativamente promovida e levada a cabo também por países da União Europeia?

Dois exemplos que este relatório não aborda sobre o papel da União Europeia, que a União Europeia tem vindo a desempenhar na Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, onde de resto não deve ter assento. O primeiro exemplo: a discussão sobre um quadro multilateral para a reestruturação das dívidas soberanas. Uma questão da maior importância para vários países da União Europeia. O que é que a União Europeia faz? Não acompanha a importantíssima discussão e boicota-a sob vários pontos de vista, procurando que dela não saiam conclusões substantivas. Outra questão: a resolução sobre o direito à água pública e ao saneamento. O que fez a União Europeia? O que fizeram os países da União Europeia? Mais uma vez não aprovaram esta importantíssima resolução e ficaram por uma ambígua abstenção na maior parte dos casos, não adotando aqueles importantes princípios contra a privatização da água e dos serviços de água.

  James Carver (EFDD). – Mr President, I find the concepts of this report deeply worrying, not least the usual display of neo-colonialism, with calls for the European Union to be given its own UN Security Council seat. In Britain the apologists maintain a lie that the EU is primarily about trade and economics, yet this subject highlights the ambition to make the EU a global power.

We have calls for EU common positions on Security Council items and for Member States on the Council to act in the interests of the EU’s common security and foreign policy. This only expands the British people’s deep mistrust of the EU, and I feel safe in asserting that this attack, at the very heart of our own ability to define British foreign policy and security, is completely unacceptable.

The time has come for the British people to vote to leave behind this 19th century answer to a 20th century problem and reaffirm our identity as a genuinely influential global trading nation. The world is our oyster, but inside the European Union, Britain’s future is as a clam.

(Koniec pytań z sali)

  Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Member of the Commission.– Mr President, I thank Mr Väyrynen for his report, which the European Commission takes as an encouragement for continuing to work for a strong European Union in the United Nations, as well as a strong partnership within the European Union and the United Nations.

As High Representative and Vice-President Federica Mogherini stressed in Vienna, following the horrific attacks in Paris (which were, in fact, attacks on us all), the answer to these barbaric terrorists must be in joining forces and coming together. Now everybody is affected. After bombings in Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and the Russian plane crash, this is a global problem that requires a global response. The challenges we face today are truly global in nature, and effective world governance has never been so crucial. A strong, effective United Nations, as well as a strong, united European Union acting together to advance our foreign policy objectives, values and interests on the United Nations stage, are more essential than ever since its creation 70 years ago.

The European Union has very close cooperation and frequent contacts with the United Nations Secretariat. On all main United Nations policies – peace and security, development of human rights – we support each other, ranging from humanitarian assistance to cooperation programmes to peace operations. Let us assure you that the European Union’s voice in the United Nations is strong and is clearly heard. Just to take two examples: first, the European Union spoke with a clear, united voice in the 2013 agenda negotiations and has thus had a major influence on this final outcome; second, the European Union regularly briefs the United Nations Security Council, including through High Representative Vice-President Federica Mogherini personally, and participates in United Nations Security Council debates. Many other United Nations member states regularly align with our statements, so we often speak on behalf of an even larger group than the European Union and its Member States. The European Union is appreciated as a reliable, positive and constructive partner, and often a bridge-builder. Strong European Union coordination allows us to appear as a solid and coherent political actor. It is more important than ever that we closely cooperate on the several crises we are faced with. The European Commission fully agrees with Members when they say that we need to take prevention and early action very seriously.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment also remain one of our major common priorities in this context, and we pursue this very actively at the United Nations. While it can seem difficult when so many full-blown conflicts already demand attention, we cannot focus on symptoms alone. We must pay attention to drivers and the root causes of conflicts, extremism and forced migration. It is important to achieve not only a rhetorical shift but a change of mindset. A clear recognition of the close interlinkage between peace, sustainable development, governance, gender equality, human rights and the rule of law in the 2013 agenda for sustainable development was just last week discussed in the Security Council under the United Kingdom Presidency, where the European Union also delivered a statement. It is our conviction that the role of security and development actors should be complementary, and sustaining peace should be a unifying thread running through the work of the United Nations.

We must preach peace, development and security, and we believe that, as a global framework agreed by all the United Nations member states, the 2013 agenda can help us to do this. The agenda is an important opportunity for all of us to depart from business as usual. It is also very relevant for the ongoing peace reviews. As Members will know, the United Nations is currently engaged in a period of strategic reflection on several levels, and we are following this with great interest in the European Union. Therefore, this report is very timely. It is absolutely essential that we keep up our regular exchanges between the European Union and the United Nations on so many levels, ranging from high-level exchanges to desk-to-desk dialogues, and this includes you, the Members of the European Parliament, who also regularly visit the United Nations capitals. Shared analysis together with our partners, including the United Nations, is essential for more joined—up strategic thinking.

The attacks in Paris are a terrible reminder of the magnitude of the threat and the importance of joining forces on counter-terrorism. The European Union and the United Nations have decided on a number of actions in recent months, including on foreign fighters, terrorist financing and countering violent extremism. Our collective response cannot be a procedural exercise. It is clear that together we need to do more, more effectively, with a new sense of purpose and urgency. Solving the Syrian and Libyan conflicts clearly remains a top priority. High Representative and Vice-President Federica Mogherini quoted Robert Schuman in her statement congratulating the United Nations on its 70th anniversary one month ago. I quote: ‘World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it’.

  Przewodniczący. – Zamykam debatę.

Głosowanie odbędzie się we wtorek 24 listopada 2015 r.

Oświadczenia pisemne (art. 162)

  Andrea Bocskor (PPE), írásban.– Az Európai Unió nemzetközi szintű fellépése a demokrácia, a jogállamiság, az egyenlőség, a szolidaritás, valamint az emberi jogok és alapvető szabadságok egyetemes és oszthatatlan voltának és az emberi méltóság tiszteletben tartásának elveire épül. Szeretnék emlékeztetni arra, hogy az EU külpolitikájának elvei és céljai szorosan kapcsolódnak az ENSZ céljaihoz. Az EU előtt álló kihívások globális megoldásokat, a globális problémák pedig hatékony uniós fellépést igényelnek. Éppen ezért céljainak eléréséhez globális partnerekre van szüksége, nevezetesen a béke és a biztonság és a terrorizmus terjedésének megakadályozása terén.

Meggyőződésem, hogy az Uniónak továbbra is törekednie kell az ENSZ-en belüli globális kormányzás megerősítésére. Az Európát sújtó migrációs és menekültválság vonatkozásában fontos, hogy az eddiginél is szorosabban együttműködve kezeljék a válságot, és – egyebek mellett – segítsék a migráció kiindulópontjául szolgáló országok gazdasági helyzetének az orvoslását és ezek fenntartható fejlesztését.

  Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (PPE), na piśmie.– Cieszę się, że w dokumencie Parlamentu nt. roli i współpracy Unii Europejskiej z ONZ znalazła się podkreślona przez Komisję Kultury i Edukacji potrzeba zintensyfikowania działań obejmujących zrównoważony rozwój kulturowy oraz ochronę i wspieranie różnorodności form wyrazu kulturowego przez włączenie edukacji, turystyki, dyplomacji kulturowej, ochrony dziedzictwa, sektora twórczego i badań naukowych w proces kształtowania polityki. Jako kontrsprawozdawca w Komisji Kultury podkreślałem przede wszystkim, że kultura powinna być wspierana z dwóch powodów: jako narzędzie stosunków zewnętrznych Unii Europejskiej poprzez dialog międzykulturowy i międzywyznaniowy oraz jako wartość autoteliczna, którą należy wspierać samą w sobie. Ważna jest dla mnie ponadto potrzeba opracowania danych statystycznych na temat kultury i sektora kultury, które zostaną wykorzystane w debacie na temat polityki kulturalnej i pozwolą mocniej podkreślić ekonomiczny potencjał sektora kultury i sektora kreatywnego oraz ich wpływ na społeczeństwo, jak również podkreślenie symbolicznego znaczenia dziedzictwa kulturowego, które – jak pokazały niedawne akty niszczenia obiektów kultury w Syrii i Iraku – stało się narzędziem realizowania celów politycznych. Konieczne jest zatem wzmożenie wysiłków, większa koordynacja i szerzenie świadomości społecznej w celu ochrony dziedzictwa kultury.