EU Priorities for the UN General Assembly
67th General Assembly

During the 67^th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA 67), in line with the EU's medium-term priorities, the EU and/or its Member States will strongly focus on the following issues: 

a)       The follow-up and implementation of the Rio+20 outcome; 

b)       The preparation of the 2013 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) review and the post-2015 development framework will also be a key issue for this and coming General Assemblies, in line with the EU mid-term priorities. The United Nations Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) will guide strategic plans of the United Nations for 2014-2017 and Delivering as One with results from Busan, Rio+20, ICPD+20 and the post-2015 MDG process being incorporated;  

c)       The promotion of Human Rights, democracy and the rule of law will remain a silver thread throughout the EU's action at the UN; 

d)       Strengthening the effectiveness of the UN, supporting the necessary reforms in key areas such as management, peacekeeping and field support as well as delivery of humanitarian assistance, ensuring revision of the scale of assessments and the financial sustainability of the Organisation, will be among the key objectives of the EU in line with its overall aim of ensuring a strong and efficient UN at the apex of the international system; 

e)       Action on regional issues will be in line with the EU medium term priorities^[1]. 

During UNGA 67 the EU and/or its Member States^[2] as appropriate will: 

PEACE AND SECURITY

• support the reinforcement of EU-UN operational cooperation in crisis management, particularly in Africa, while continuously enhancing the EU’s support to UN peacekeeping, through a structured dialogue based on concrete needs and with a view to optimizing the use of resources;
• enhance UN operational cooperation with other regional organizations whose role and responsibility in the multilevel governance is growing;
• continue to promote the respect for humanitarian principles and to advocate for International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and Refugee Law. Continue to promote an overall efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance, notably by the ongoing strengthening the UN humanitarian architecture and through advocacy for the necessary humanitarian space that is needed to access vulnerable populations. Support activities in favour of linking relief to recovery and long-term development;
• support the concept of protection of civilians, including by facilitating discussion at the UN on how best to assist governments in protecting their own civilians;
• support the efforts for better coordination and cooperation within the UN peacebuilding architecture, as well as with other peacebuilding actors such as the World Bank;
• promote the peacebuilding and statebuilding goals and support the implementation of the New Deal for engagement in fragile and conflict-affected countries, to contribute to their gradual transition out of fragility; support the G7+ in its endeavours in this field; 
• support the operationalisation and implementation of the review of civilian capacities in the aftermath of conflict;
• continue to promote the responsibility to protect and its further operationalisation with a particular focus on prevention;  continue discussing with the wider UN membership with a view to ensuring that the concept of responsibility to protect, as agreed at the 2005 World summit, is preserved and implemented;
• continue to support the preventive diplomacy capacity of the UN, including  the efforts and initiatives in the field of mediation;
• continue to promote the concept of Human Security;
• promote the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, in particular enhanced participation of women in peace processes;
• support efforts to enhance the protection of children in armed conflict;
• support, at the international and national levels, the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern. The EU emphasizes that justice is a key factor for lasting peace;
• support activities related to the promotion of the Rule of Law on the national and international level, in particular, with a view to the High-Level event in September 2012;
• Support efforts towards a successful outcome of the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, including throughout the Preparatory Committee process which commenced in April 2012;
• support progress towards the aim of establishing a Middle East Free Zone of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of  mass destruction (WMD) , including through support to the process towards the convening of an inclusive international Conference on the subject;
• support the efforts and initiatives  towards taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations, including the revitalization of the Conference on Disarmament (CD),  and continue to stress the need for an immediate launch of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT); 
• continue to support efforts in achieving an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT);
• continue to promote and universalize the safeguards regime, including its Additional Protocol, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);
• promote the effective implementation of, and full compliance with, Security Council resolution 1540 (2004);
• ensure that the IAEA nuclear safety standards and security guidelines are applied universally;
• promote the effective follow-up to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) 7th Review Conference and to the Convention on certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) 4th Review Conference;
•  work towards successful outcomes of the 2012 UN Conference on the ATT and of the 2012 Review Conference on the Programme of Action on Small and Light Arms (SALW) and give priority to their follow-up;
• support efforts towards a successful outcome to the Third Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Review Conference, to be held inThe Haguein April 2013;
• promote agreement on practical elements for the adoption of an International Code of Conduct on Outer Space activities;
• continue to promote dialogue, including with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, on the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and to further the implementation of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy;
• continue to support the Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014 in order to strengthen implementation of and promote universal adherence to the Mine Ban Convention;
• Support for international efforts to divest the world of cluster ammunitions, and in particular the involvement of the world's largest manufacturers and possessors;
• promote the implementation of UN sanctions regimes, including the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1373, 1540, 1988, 1267 and 1989; 
• support the ratification process and the full and effective implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and its additional Protocols and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the continued strengthening of the international drug control regime based in the UN drug control conventions;
• promote the strengthening of international cooperation against piracy, in accordance with relevant UN provisions;
• advance work on the influence of climate change and environmental degradation on international peace and security; 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• ensure effective follow-up to and implementation of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) outcomes, in particular a worldwide transition towards a green economy and better sustainable development governance. This includes agreement on a better and more efficient Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development and strengthened International Environmental Governance (IEG);
• ensure effective and coherent preparation for the 2013 MDG Review Summit building on Rio+20 outcomes and post-Busan follow-up and furthering acceptance by the UN system of the principles of aid effectiveness and global development partnership. The sustainable development agenda encompasses social, economic and environmental dimensions, and this should be achieved more coherently and consistently;
• ensure a coherent and focused discourse across the UN bodies and fora with regard to initiatives related to governance, including global economic governance, follow-up to the Rio+20 outcome and post 2015 development framework. Institutional aspects should be considered with a view to limiting a fragmentation of the processes; 
• support an increased political engagement of UNGA as regards sustainable development:
• remain committed to the full implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)/Cairo Declaration and Programme of Action and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. We will pay special attention to gender equality and the right of women and men to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexual and reproductive health. To this end, the we will work actively to ensure that health systems provide information and health services addressing the sexual and reproductive needs of women, as this is crucial for women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• promote low carbon development as a key element of sustainable development and ensure effective follow-up of the outcome of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Durban working towards a single, fair and comprehensive legally binding agreement;
• promote the smooth transition of  the least developed countries (LDC) from that category, building on the process started at the LDC IV conference and the current ad hoc UNGA working group;
• support relevant UN bodies, in particular the Commission on Social Development, in promoting the empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all. Promote the implementation of the social protection floor and, as an ultimate aim, universal health coverage;
• integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and transition to recovery more effectively into UN development and humanitarian aid policies and programming, ensuring effective coordination between development and humanitarian actors;

HUMAN RIGHTS

• seek to increase support for the UNGA 67 resolution on death penalty as well as for the EU's country initiatives on human rights situations in the Third Committee; we will continue to engage strongly on Freedom of Religion or Belief with third countries with the aim to reaffirm and develop further the acquis of EU-tabled UNGA and HRC resolutions;
• engage with partners in promoting and protecting the empowering freedoms, inter alia freedom of expression,  including on the internet, as well as freedom of assembly and freedom of association;
• combat gender-based discrimination and violence (in line with the priority theme for the CSW 2013), including Female Genital Mutilation; and work towards the elimination of forced and early marriage;
• continue to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
• promote women's full enjoyment of human rights and women's leadership at all levels, seek continued support for the biannual resolution on violence against women  and further promote the withdrawal of existing reservations  that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention by State Parties to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
• promote the universal ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and adopt a unified and proactive position in the negotiation of resolutions on racism in order ensure broad consensus  and engage early with third countries to prevent further politicisation of the Durban agenda and  built in  the positive momentum of the UNGA 66 resolution on the follow-up to the Durban declaration and its program of action; 
• strengthen support at the UN for the promotion of the rights of the child, including by supporting the two Special Representatives of the UNSG, as well as of indigenous peoples and people with disabilities, and seek the expansion of the cross-regional core group on the human rights of LGBT people, address these rights and actively support the South African leadership in this regard;
• participate actively and constructively in the discussion on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and reaffirm our commitments regarding the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation and accelerate and support the measures for the respect of Resolutions 63/178 and 64/159 on the Right to Food;
• continue to support to the treaty body strengthening process facilitated by the OHCHR, while acknowledging the need to improve cost effectiveness, and the complex and independent nature of the treaty body system and the need to respect the competencies of different stakeholders, including the states parties for each convention the treaty bodies themselves and the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
• promote the implementation of the UN guiding principles on Business and Human Rights.

STRENGTHENING THE UN

• engage in discussion within the UN membership in pursuit of the Member States' objectives on the need to revise the scale of assessments in 2012 that would reflect a fairer and more balanced distribution of the financial responsibilities among Member States according to their capacity to pay, and thus safeguard the financial sustainability of the Organisation;
• ensure that UN financial resources are managed efficiently and effectively, according to the principles of budgetary discipline and coherence, in conformity with the highest international standards; 
• strongly support the Secretary General's reform efforts, by actively engaging with his team and the relevant UN members, in order to avoid deadlocks in reform proposals in areas such as management, peacekeeping, field support, development or humanitarian assistance;
• ensure the successful completion of the QCPR 2012 of UN operational activities for development in the autumn of 2012;
• take forward the "Delivering-as-One"-process in view of the outcome of the independent evaluation with a view to strengthening the UN system in the field of development
• further promote the revitalization of the General Assembly, including through improving the working methods of the UNGA, its committees and subsidiary organs;
• strengthen the dialogue and cooperation among regional and sub-regional groups;
• continue to promote reform of the UN System and of its main bodies and organs, including the revitalisation of the General Assembly and the comprehensive reform of the Security Council, with the aim to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability and representativeness of the system.

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