WRITTEN QUESTION P-3215/00

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(10 October 2000)

Subject: EU-UN co-operation on crisis management and conflict prevention

On 15 September a meeting of the UN and the EU took place to discuss co-operation in the area of crisis management and conflict prevention.

- What was the agenda of this meeting and what were the conclusions?

- Were these issues discussed again when Mr Kofi Annan visited Europe?

- What is the EU position on co-operation with the UN in this area, and what role should the UN be given in the elaboration of the Helsinki agreements concerning CFSP?

- What could be the EU's concrete contribution towards strengthening the capacities of the UN in crisis management and conflict prevention?

- Will these issues be discussed during the upcoming European Council meeting?

- What will be the future format of dialogue between the UN and the EU on crisis management and conflict prevention?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

Conflict prevention and crisis management were among the key themes in the very fruitful high-level discussions between the Union and the United Nations at recent meetings in New York (13 September 2000) and Europe (3-5 October 2000), where the United Nations Secretary General met the President of the Commission, the Members responsible for External relations, Enlargement and Commerce and the High representative Mr Solana as well as the Union Presidency.

Other items on the agenda were the developments in the Middle East and in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sierra Leone, Cyprus, support to the less developed countries (LDCs) and debt relief as well as how to enhance global coordination between the Community and the United Nations. There was agreement that more effective and mutually beneficial co-operation between the Community and the United Nations must be steered in particular by more frequent meetings both at political and working level. Work continues on a more precise co-ordination framework.

The strengthening of relevant capabilities of international organisations forms an integral part of the follow-up to the Helsinki decisions in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management. Given the vital role of the United Nations for maintaining peace and security, the United Nations is the most important partner of the Union in this context.

The United Nations has taken initiatives aimed at strengthening its conflict prevention and crisis management capabilities. The most recent is the important Brahimi report on improving the effectiveness of United Nations peace keeping missions. The Union is fully supporting these efforts and is committed to developing synergies with the United Nations. The Commission is organising its work in this regard with a view to enhancing its capabilities. The Council will organise a seminar on civilian aspects of crisis management this month with the United Nations.

Given the need for co-ordination with the United Nations, the Commission believes that the issue will be taken up by the next European Council within the context of both the Presidency's report on strengthening Union crisis management capabilities as well as the joint report of the High representative/Secretary General of the Council and the Commission on conflict prevention.