12 March 2024
Thank you, President. I also welcome High Representative Borrell to today’s meeting and thank him for sharing his thoughts and insights with us.
Cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations remains a cornerstone of the United Nations work.
As a member of the European Union and as a committed multilateralist, Malta strongly supports enhanced cooperation between the EU and the UN. We remain open to exploring new approaches to delivering effective multilateralism for all and to enable diplomacy to work.
President
The EU seeks to maintain a strong focus on international peace and security and to promote the rule of law over force. These principles are fully aligned with those of the UN, making the two organisations natural partners.
The EU and its Member States have consistently underlined the need to work together towards one common goal, that of upholding international law and the UN Charter.
It is only through multilateralism we can be able to find global solutions to global problems. In this regard, the Summit of Future provides a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the system that binds us together bringing peace, stability, prosperity, and growth.
President
The EU has always been a peace project, born from the ashes of the Second World War. It has been successful in bringing peace to its people and promoting it around the world. It is central to our DNA.
Throughout the years, EU-UN cooperation has focused on the two organisations’ priorities and objectives and has addressed current crises that overlap on the EU and Security Council agendas. These include our firm support towards Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression, as well as our calls and contributions towards the humanitarian crisis suffered by the civilian population in Gaza.
The EU works together with the UN in different countries with the shared objectives of protecting human rights, including of women and children, tackling root causes of conflict, and preserving peace.
Moreover, the EU is a critical key partner to the UN in crisis prevention and management, as well as being a leading humanitarian and development assistance donor.
The comprehensive UN-EU approach to crisis management, mediation, and peace operations has helped several nations overcome the difficulties of conflict, in their path towards peace.
There are currently 24 EU peace and security missions and operations in three continents. EU Member States collectively deploy over 4,300 personnel in peacekeeping operations. These efforts overlap with and contribute to strengthening of the ‘New Agenda for Peace’.
In the Mediterranean Sea, Operation IRINI continues to contribute to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya, in application of Resolution 2292.
As co-penholders with France, we believe it is essential that the Security Council renews this resolution again in June.
In Africa, the EU’s missions testify its commitment towards the continent and its engagement with the African Union.
To conclude, President, we believe that strengthening cooperation between the UN and the EU will enhance our ability for preventing and resolving conflicts. It will also advance the principles of the UN Charter. Malta, along with the European Union will continue to contribute to the construction of an effective and fair multilateralism for the maintenance of international peace and security.
I thank you.