WRITTEN QUESTION E-0681/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: NGO participation in discussions about the future of the UN

Will the Commission say what provisions are being made for the participation of Southern NGOs and civil society organisations in the deliberations of the UN's Millennium Civil Society Forum in May, and the UN Millennium General Assembly in September?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0681/00 and E-0682/00 given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2000)

The Community is a key protagonist in the preparations for the Millennium Summit. The Commission and the Member States consider the Summit (5-8 September 2000, New York) and the non-governmental organizations (NGO) Forum (22-26 May 2000, New York, United Nations Headquarters), including the preparatory process, an opportunity to reach consensus on the future orientation of the organisation, which would help further reform efforts to strengthen the United Nations system. Therefore, the Commission is actively participating in the preparatory process for the Millennium Summit. It contributes on a regular basis to the Community co-ordination in New York and in Brussels, which until now addressed aspects such as duration, format, themes, civil society participation and outcome.

On the format issue, the Community has insisted that the Summit should be interactive, allowing for a mix of short formal statements with parallel round table discussions on specific themes, with the subject of human rights as a cross-cutting issue. In March 2000, the United Nations Secretariat general (UNSG) issued a report designed to advance the debate on the Millennium Summit.

Regarding civil society participation, the Community welcomes the proposal of the United Nations general assembly (UNGA) President that a spokesperson from the Millennium Forum should address the plenary of the Millennium Summit.

As for the outcome, the Community favours a succinct political declaration, in which Heads of State and Government would express their commitment to United Nations goals, principles and ideals, and to which would be annexed the Chairmen's reports on the round table discussions.

The President of the Commission will attend the Summit and address the plenary. Furthermore, the Commission hopes to obtain the possibility of attending one of the four round tables.

In preparation for the Millennium Assembly and of the report of the Secretariat general for the Millennium Assembly, five informal regional hearings have already been held in cooperation with the five regional commissions of the United Nations in order to elicit innovative views and suggestions on how best to strengthen the United Nations to face the challenges ahead in the areas of peace and security, development, humanitarian affairs and human rights. Representatives of civil society were invited by the United Nations to participate alongside with Member States.

The Millennium Forum will bring together representatives of the civil society from all over the world. It will be a deliberative event and the participants will be selected on the basis of criteria such as gender, theme, expertise and geography. Not only traditional non-governmental organizations but also other major groups such as youth, parliamentarians, local authorities, indigenous populations, research and academic institutions, the private sector, and prominent people like Nobel Prize laureates will be represented.

For more information, it is suggested to consult the following sites on Internet:

http://www.un.org/millennium (UN Internet web site);

http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/docs99/gpfrep.htm (Global Policy Forum web site).