Die Präsidentin. – Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über den Bericht von Andrey Kovatchev im Namen des Ausschusses für auswärtige Angelegenheiten über die Empfehlung des Europäischen Parlaments an den Rat zur 72. Tagung der Generalversammlung der Vereinten Nationen (2017/2041(INI)) (A8-0216/2017).
Andrey Kovatchev,rapporteur. – Madam President, I would like to share with you our views on a number of key topics in the traditional form of an annual recommendation to the Council. The objective is to contribute to the preparation of the EU priorities for the United Nations General Assembly session each autumn, which the Council normally adopts in July. We agreed on 18 compromises based on 255 amendments.
I would like to thank all the colleagues who contributed to the final version of this report, the members of the EU-UN Working Group, the shadow rapporteurs, rapporteurs and political advisors for their constructive approach and the Secretariat of the Committee on Foreign Affairs for its excellent support.
The annual United Nations General Assembly Recommendations report empowers our institution to present its opinion via the Council to the UN General Assembly on issues ranging from peace and security, through climate change, to advocacy of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
In its report, Parliament recommends that the Council, inter alia, should:
continue to call for full respect for the sovereignty, internationally recognised borders and territorial integrity of Eastern European and South Caucasus countries, namely Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, in the light of the violations of international law in these areas; draw the attention of the UN member states to the increase in tensions between some countries in the Western Balkans; urge their leaders to show restraint in their regional policies, with the EU and the UN remaining fully involved in seeking lasting solutions to bilateral differences, including by acting as mediators where necessary; further encourage the UN’s efforts to bring about peace in Afghanistan and to overcome the fragile security environment in the country; strongly condemn the actions of the North Korean leadership that threaten peace and security in the Korean peninsula and beyond;
reiterate its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and its full support for actions aimed at defeating and eradicating terrorist organisations; and step up efforts to clamp down on the recruitment of terrorists;
support UN efforts to prevent non-state actors and terrorist groups from developing, manufacturing, acquiring or transferring weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, and to insist on full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention;
call for a strengthening of the global response to migration and address the challenges and security concerns stemming from aspects of illegal migration, such as people-smuggling and human trafficking;
reiterate its condemnation of any act of violence, harassment or persecution against human-rights defenders, and push for stronger engagement in promoting the rule of law;
take concrete steps to ensure the efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015;
ensure that the EU remains committed to the fight against climate change and call on all UN member states to uphold the Paris Agreement;
regain trust in multilateralism and try to convince all the UN member states that this approach is the right one and that the UN should remain an internationally recognised organisation in so many challenging places on our planet.
Federica Mogherini,Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Madam President, this year I celebrated Europe Day, 9 May, in New York with the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to stress the natural partnership between the UN and the European Union, at the precise moment when the UN system is coming under growing pressure – if you want to be diplomatic – or under attack, if you want to be clear.
We have seen a resurgence of the very old-fashioned idea that national interest is not compatible with a cooperative global order. And we Europeans know from experience that this is not the case. Our national interest, our European interest is to invest in the UN system, in multilateral decision-making and in cooperative global solutions for global problems.
The United Nations needs our support now more than ever, and Mr Guterres made it very clear in this Chamber just a few months ago. It is a pleasure to see that the European institutions share exactly the same views on global governance and on our support to the UN system. Your report is perfectly in line with the work we are doing to define the European Union’s priorities at the next General Assembly and, as it was the case also last year, the report has been itself a source of this inspiration for our work.
The Foreign Affairs Council will adopt the EU priorities for the General Assembly on 17 July, and the draft text aims to be political and focused, reflecting the new context.
The multilateral system of global governance is under attack, as I said, and it is the moment to somehow renew our vows, to commit even more to effective multilateralism. I would like to stress the word ‘effective’ because the best way we have to protect the multilateral system is to make it deliver.
Over the last few years we collectively have achieved some impressive results through the multilateral system, through the UN system: the nuclear deal with Iran, the sustainable development goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, to mention just a few. The European Union is working and will continue to work to guarantee that all these agreements are implemented fully and properly. We have this responsibility. We are exercising this, building strong global partnerships, starting with the Paris Agreement.
With our consensus on development, we are leading the way in the implementation of the sustainable development goals. At the same time, we know that the United Nations needs reform. António Guterres has put forward a very ambitious reform programme. Changes to the UN culture, structures and operations will be necessary. And we will use all our political and diplomatic capital to help build a coalition in support of UN reform, and to support the UN Secretary General in this respect. We are ready to do so because we know that this is in our own interests.
We know that we truly need a strong and effective United Nations, and this is why the European Union’s voluntary contributions to the UN funds and agencies amount to half of their total budget, and we are proud of that. This means that we invest as much in them as the rest of the world combined.
We do this, not only because it is right, but also because it is smart. It is smart to invest in the World Food Programme to prevent a humanitarian crisis or a refugee crisis. It is smart to invest in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help millions of displaced people. It is smart to invest in UNICEF to help children in a war-torn country to go to school and prevent the radicalisation of future generations. And the list could continue.
Investing in global governance, sustainable development, climate action – and here again the list could continue – is for us an investment in our own security. Hours ago in this Chamber we had a debate on European security and defence. I also stressed then that this is part of our work on security. Investing in a strong multilateral system and in a strong UN system is for us an investment in European security. Not only European security, global security. This is the European way to security and it is also the UN way to it.
This is the contribution we will bring to the next UN General Assembly. Beyond the ad-hoc things we will continue to do, this is the main message we bring. We will focus on conflict-prevention, thereby making a contribution to building peace. We will continue to work to implement the sustainable development goals via development cooperation on human rights – a key pillar of our work – and we will work with Mr Guterres and with all our partners towards a more effective multilateralism.
Reading your report I know these are priorities that we share because they correspond to our values and to our interests, which is serving and reforming the UN system.
Cristian Dan Preda, au nom du groupe PPE. – Madame la Présidente, permettez-moi tout d’abord de dire que je fais cette intervention 16 heures après être arrivé ici au Parlement, dans ce «Parlement ridicule», selon la formule de Jean-Claude Juncker. C’est une partie de la même l’histoire même de cette institution.
Laissez-moi ensuite féliciter M. Kovatchev pour la rédaction de ces recommandations. Cet exercice traditionnel, à travers lequel le Parlement donne sa position à l’intention du Conseil, comme (sur ?)ainsi que les thématiques abordées, peuvent améliorer notre action sur la scène internationale et renforcer le multilatéralisme.
Nous avons besoin – je crois – d’engagements plus solides au niveau multilatéral afin de trouver une solution durable aux conflits en Syrie, en Iraq, au Yémen, en Libye, en Ukraine ou encore dans les conflits gelés en Moldavie et en Géorgie. Les instances onusiennes jouent évidemment un rôle majeur à cet égard. Elles sont aussi le cadre adéquat pour traiter dles récentes tensions dans la région des Balkans occidentaux et adopter une position ferme quant face aux actions de la Russie qui menacent la stabilité des processus de réforme dans cette zone.
Il faut, certes, continuer à soutenir la réforme de l’ONU, y compris du Conseil de sécurité. Je soulignerai, en particulier, un point qui figure également dans le rapport que j’ai rédigé sur les crimes de guerre, le génocide et les crimes contre l’humanité, que nous avons voté aujourd’hui. L’usage du droit de veto par les membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité est inacceptable lorsque des crimes d’atrocités sont commis.
Enfin, je mentionnerai que le groupe PPE a demandé un vote séparé sur le point paragraphe 1, point g), ): et nous voterons contre cette partie qui traite du mandat de la Mission des Nations unies pour l’organisation d’un référendum au Sahara occidental (Minurso). Ce point contient plusieurs éléments inexacts, et nous estimons qu’il n’est pas du tout opportun dans ce texte.
Soraya Post, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, I would like to start by thanking Mr Kovatchev for the good cooperation during the writing of the report. Looking at the world today, it is clear that the EU and UN must strengthen the role of women in all segments of society. We especially need the representation of women from marginalised groups. The empowerment of marginalised women is not only democratic. It holds out the prospect of how to build democratic societies.
To this end, I have tabled multiple amendments to stress the importance of women’s participation in peace and security processes, all in line with the numerous UN resolutions on this issue. I have also requested the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. And to be honest, as a feminist, I find it embarrassing to still have to put this argument forward.
The Beijing Platform should have been implemented a long time ago. We need implementation, we need reform and we need a UN Security Council that reflects the new world reality. It is time for the EU to have a single seat in the Security Council.
Die Präsidentin. – Bevor ich Herrn Notis Marias das Wort gebe, möchte ich nur noch daran erinnern, dass ich keine blauen Karten akzeptiere und auch kein Catch-the-eye-Verfahren mehr mache.
Νότης Μαριάς, εξ ονόματος της ομάδας ECR. – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, συζητούμε την έκθεση για τη σύσταση του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου προς το Συμβούλιο, που αφορά την 72η σύνοδο της γενικής συνέλευσης του ΟΗΕ, και ενώ η έκθεση εξετάζει σχεδόν όλα τα μεγάλα ζητήματα που αφορούν την παγκόσμια ειρήνη, ενώ φτάνει να ασχολείται με την Αφρική, με την Ασία, με τα πέρατα του κόσμου, δεν εξετάζει τι γίνεται εδώ κοντά, δεν εξετάζει τι γίνεται στην Κύπρο, δεν λέει λέξη για την παράνομη εισβολή της Τουρκίας στην Κύπρο και δεν λέει λέξη για την παράνομη κατοχή του 37% της Κύπρου από τα τουρκικά στρατεύματα. Γιατί άραγε; Η έκθεση επίσης δεν λέει λέξη για τις απειλές της Τουρκίας κατά της Ελλάδας, για τις παραβιάσεις του ελληνικού εναέριου χώρου και των θαλάσσιων χωρικών υδάτων της πατρίδας μου από την Τουρκία.
Τι είδους ευρωπαϊκή αλληλεγγύη είναι άραγε αυτή προς την Ελλάδα και την Κύπρο; Τέλος, η έκθεση δεν λέει κουβέντα για τη διαγραφή του χρέους των αναπτυσσόμενων χωρών, αλλά και των χωρών της ευρωπαϊκής περιφέρειας, παρότι μόνον έτσι θα επιτευχθεί η ανάπτυξη για την οποία τόσο πολύ κόπτεται η υπό συζήτηση έκθεση.
Илхан Кючюк, от името на групата ALDE. – Г-жо Председател, г-жо Могерини, уважаеми колеги, благодаря на докладчика Андрей Ковачев за положените усилия, както и на останалите колеги за подготвянето на този текст. Положителното гласуване на препоръката е от изключителна важност, тъй като тя очертава рамката на приоритетите на Европейския съюз за предстоящото Общо събрание на ООН. Нещо повече, не е тайна, че много от страните – членки на Европейския съюз са разделени по голяма част от въпросите от глобален характер и смятам, че посочването на общи приоритети е възможност да покажем пред международната общност, че Европейският съюз може да играе важна роля на глобалната сцена, но и да говори с един глас.
Като докладчик в сянка от групата ALDE съм изключително доволен, че комисията по външни работи успя да състави един консолидиран текст, в който бяха гласувани някои съществени предложения за нашите демократични ценности. Докладът ясно подчертава, че Европейският съюз е един от най-отдадените защитници и изразители на правата на човека, основните свободи и многообразието, борбата с климатичните промени, демокрацията и върховенството на закона.
Същевременно Европейският съюз трябва да продължи да подкрепя многостранните опити за намиране на трайни политически и мирни решения на продължаващите конфликти в Близкия Изток и Северна Африка. Но също така и да продължи да призовава за пълно зачитане на международно признатите граници и териториалната цялост на страните от Източна Европа и Южен Кавказ, и да подкрепя възстановяването на дипломатическите усилия за мирно уреждане на продължаващите и замразени конфликти. Разбира се, препоръката ясно очертава нашата последователна подкрепа за цялостна реформа на Съвета за сигурност на ООН, така щото да удовлетворява по най-добрия начин новите глобални реалности.
В заключение, бих искал да насоча Вашето внимание към поправката на групата ALDE относно преговорите за обединение на Кипър. В момента се намираме в заключителната фаза на тези исторически преговори и считам, че Европейският съюз може да изпрати силен сигнал, като заяви пълната си подкрепа за усилията, положени от ООН за цялостното уреждане на разделението на острова. От успешното приключване на процеса няма губещи, а само печелещи. И ние трябва да подкрепим всички наши … (Председателят прекъсна оратора)
Helmut Scholz, im Namen der GUE/NGL-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Mogherini! Die Nichteinreise eines arabischen Königs zum G20-Treffen schaffte es zur Spitzenmeldung, das monatelange Arbeiten der Vereinten Nationen versinkt in medialer Nichterwähnung.
Das Erste bringt unstrittig bessere Fotos. Alleine das Zweite führt zu den Lösungen, die wir brauchen, um unseren gemeinsamen Herausforderungen zu begegnen, um in Frieden und gegenseitigem Ausgleich miteinander zu leben. Die SDGs, das Pariser Klimaschutzübereinkommen, Bemühungen um das Schaffen eines Regulierungsrahmens für die Umstrukturierung von Staatsschulden oder für einen gerechten und geregelten Handel in globalen Wertschöpfungsketten oder allgemein die weitere Verrechtlichung unserer internationalen Beziehungen – sie alle sind nur über kontinuierliche fokussierte Arbeit zu erreichen.
Wo diese nicht stattfindet, werden sich immer mehr Staaten den gemeinsamen Regeln entziehen und alleine ihre Interessen nach vorne stellen. Hier liegt die gemeinsame Verantwortung auch von Kommission, Rat, Mitgliedstaaten und EP. 2018 muss unsere Entschließung endlich stärker Schwerpunkte setzen und sich daran messen, dass Diskussionen in der UNO oftmals bereits viel weiter sind als unsere Positionen.
Barbara Lochbihler, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Der UN-Generalsekretär Guterres hat uns im Mai hier im Plenum eine sehr beeindruckende Rede gehalten und uns die wichtigsten Herausforderungen uns vor Augen geführt, mit denen sich die Vereinten Nationen konfrontiert sehen.
Mir ist es wichtig, dass die EU seinen Ansatz unterstützt, sowohl die Reform der UN—Sicherheitsstrukturen voranzubringen als auch die Kapazitäten für Aufgaben der Mediation und Konfliktlösung zu stärken. Dabei müssen die EU-Mitgliedstaaten ihre Unterstützung finanziell und personell für die friedensbewahrenden und friedensbildenden Missionen der Vereinten Nationen signifikant erhöhen. Unsere Entschließung unterstützt die Reformagenda von Generalsekretär Guterres voll und ganz.
Aber auch die UN-Mitgliedstaaten sind aufgefordert, die finanziellen Mittel dafür bereitzustellen. Die Friedenspolitik der UN darf nicht gefährdet werden. Die EU muss hier einen Beitrag leisten, eine EU, die der UN-Generalsekretär hier als das größte Friedensprojekt in der Geschichte bezeichnet hat. Vielen Dank, Herr Kovatchev, für einen sehr guten Bericht.
James Carver, on behalf of the EFDD Group. – Madam President, usually I defend my country’s privileged position as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, but tonight, a year after the UK’s sensible decision to leave the European Union, and with Article 50 negotiations finally under way, I turn my attention across the Channel. So, my French friends and neighbours – I can say that, can’t I? – will surely come to expect similar increased pressure over the retention of their own permanent UN Security Council seat.
France must not subjugate its international and security interests in the name of the EU collective. Since the Brexit vote, and in the rush for ever closer Union, the EU has demonstrated its inability to adapt in its rush for greater powers in relation to defence and security matters.
Through our joint efforts and sacrifice, the United Kingdom and France have greatly contributed to the maintenance of international security. Although this partnership has not always been perfect, it is strong and it must continue as such after Brexit. On this basis I would urge my French counterparts to abandon their support of the EU project, and instead throw their full weight behind this bilateral partnership, and fully commit to NATO.
If they do not do so, I fear it will be to the detriment of security for Europe and La Francophonie and internationally.
David McAllister (PPE). – Madam President, I would first of all like to thank Andrey Kovatchev for this really interesting report. It is well worth reading – Mnogo blagodarya, as you say in Bulgarian.
As UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasised in this plenary just a few weeks ago, we need ‘an investment in international cooperation to face the global challenges that are in front of us and that no country can face in an isolated way’.
Among the numerous topics that require close cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations, our focus should be on prevention and early action to stop the onset of crises, as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has already pointed out. I believe that out common EU-UN efforts in addressing the root causes of terrorism, countering hybrid threats and promoting cyber defence must be strengthened and coordinated. Early action also includes fighting terrorist propaganda through social media platforms and supporting counter-radicalisation policies, in line with the UN plan for action to prevent violent extremism.
Yes, this requires close cooperation, responsible innovative solutions and early action, but we should keep in mind that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Jo Leinen (S&D). – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Mogherini! Die G20-Tagung, die am Wochenende in Hamburg stattfindet, ist doch ein Zeichen, dass die UN nicht gut funktioniert.
Wie kann es sein, dass 175 Länder vor der Tür stehen und 20 Länder den Gang der Weltgeschichte bestimmen? Also ich stimme Ihnen zu: Die UNO muss reformiert werden, sie muss stärker werden, sie muss effizienter werden. Wir sollten alles tun, um den Generalsekretär zu unterstützen, das haben Sie auch gesagt.
Wir haben hier im Parlament morgen noch mal den Wunsch, dass neben der Generalversammlung auch eine parlamentarische Versammlung eingerichtet wird. Nach 70 Jahren Existenz der UNO wäre es wichtig, dass die Bürgerkammern dort nicht nur Beobachter sind, sondern dass nach Artikel 22 ein Nebenorgan gebildet wird, und es gibt mehr Länder, die dem zustimmen, als man wahrnimmt: Kanada, die Schweiz, Norwegen und jede Menge Länder in der Dritten Welt.
Ich würde Sie bitten, sich dafür einzusetzen. Ich glaube auch, dass man für den Multilateralismus China mit ins Boot nehmen muss, wenn schon die USA jetzt dieses System attackieren, die UNO attackieren, wie sie die EU attackieren. China muss auch mehr finanzielle Beiträge leisten. Das sollte man auch versuchen.
Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE). – Señora presidenta, tengo que felicitar en primer lugar a Andrey Kovatchev, el ponente, por su informe, que aborda muchos de los desafíos a los que nos enfrentamos, desafíos que son comunes, globales; que requieren, por consiguiente, una respuesta colectiva. Y por ello celebro los esfuerzos que las Naciones Unidas están haciendo en ámbitos como, en primer lugar, la lucha contra el terrorismo, en cuestiones de financiación y de cooperación judicial internacional; el desarrollo sostenible, donde destacan los procesos de implementación de la Agenda 2030 y de la aplicación del Acuerdo de París; y los desplazamientos masivos de personas, a través del seguimiento realizado de la reunión de alto nivel del pasado año.
Tenemos que mantener el compromiso de la Unión Europea con el multilateralismo, frente a tentaciones aislacionistas o proteccionistas que crean división e incertidumbre. Las Naciones Unidas son la pieza fundamental del multilateralismo. La Unión Europea, que tiene que ser un actor global, factor de paz, estabilidad, progreso, debe seguir trabajando de manera activa en y con las Naciones Unidas.
Recordaba David McAllister a Guterres; yo también lo voy a hacer aquí: una Europa fuerte y unida —dijo— es un pilar fundamental para unas Naciones Unidas sólidas y efectivas.
Federica Mogherini,Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Madam President, again there is less than one minute to say that the debate we have had tonight in this Chamber will be duly reported and reflected in the forthcoming decisions and debates with the Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council ten days from now and, most of all, in the work we do daily with the UN system and, in particular, in view of the general assembly.
I cannot tell you that I will see you in New York, because I guess we will see each other before that here in Strasbourg. Apart from that, we will continue our good work together.
Andrey Kovatchev, rapporteur. – Madam President, I would like to thank all my colleagues, and also Ms Mogherini, for the good cooperation. The key word is indeed effective multilateralism, as you called it, and to regain trust in this global system of preventing conflicts and having long—lasting solutions for citizens in different places on our planet.
As you said, we support the newly-elected United Nations Secretary—General’s reform agenda. The EU must encourage the impetus for reform of the US peace and security architecture, the function and the architecture of the secretariat through simplification, decentralisation and flexibility, and the streamlining of financial organisation. But we also need to do our homework here in the European Parliament and in our representations in order to coordinate the work of our ambassadors there as much as possible, not only in Europe, but also in other places in Rome, in Bonn and other UN places where we have representations, to work for a common European architecture for security and defence, as well as a common European system for the exchange of intelligence information, which can also be used to prevent terrorism.
Die Präsidentin. – Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.
Die Abstimmung findet morgen, Mittwoch, 5. Juli 2017, statt.
Schriftliche Erklärungen (Artikel 162 GO)
Urmas Paet (ALDE), kirjalikult. – ÜROs käsitletakse tavapäraselt kõikvõimalikke probleeme ja neile lahenduste otsimist, sh inimõigused, humanitaarabi, arenguabi jne. Sama oluline on keskenduda ka ÜROle kui institutsioonile endale ja selle ees seisvatele muutustele. Aastakümneid on räägitud vajadusest reformida ÜROd ja selle julgeolekunõukogu, ent kaugele ei ole jõutud. ÜRO Julgeolekunõukogu põhjalikku reformimist on vaja selleks, et peegeldada paremini maailma uut olukorda ning suuta tulemuslikumalt reageerida praegustele ja tulevastele julgeolekuohtudele. On oluline, et lepitaks kokku selles, et ÜRO Julgeolekunõukogu liikmed hoiduksid vetoõiguse kasutamisest inimsusevastaseid kuritegusid käsitlevate juhtumite puhul. Lisaks peaks ELi eesmärk olema saada koht ÜRO reformitud Julgeolekunõukogus. Selle jaoks on vaja teha järjepidevalt tööd.