“Several issues were addressed, such as the war in Ukraine, food security, the climate emergency, development aid and also the reform of the UN itself,” the European Council revealed.
The heads of state and government of the European Union (EU) defended this Thursday the need to “modernize the UN and introduce reforms in global governance”, during a working meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations in Brussels.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UN), António Guterres, was a special guest at the European Council that takes place between Thursday and Friday in the Belgian capital, after having participated in a working lunch with the leaders of the EU .
Guterres joins the EU leaders this Thursday in a new summit under the sign of war
During the meeting, various topics were discussed, such as the war in Ukraine, food security, the climate emergency, development aid and also the reform of the UN itself, revealed the European Council.
In a statement, the Council indicated that the EU leaders and the Secretary General “underlined the importance of EU-UN cooperation in tackling global challenges pressing issues”, as well as their “common commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations at its center”, having explored “possibilities for closer collaboration towards a peaceful, just and sustainable world”.
“The leaders expressed their support for the Secretary-General’s proposals under ‘Our Common Agenda’ and look forward to the Summit of the Future in 2024,” the council statement continued, noting that “(EU) leaders They stressed the need to modernize the United Nations and introduce reforms in global governance.
The Secretary General, for his part, “thanked the European Union for its strong support for the United Nations and multilateralism and called for further cooperation in the context of the implementation of “Our Common Agenda” and next year’s Future Summit,” said a statement issued by the UN.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, “the members of the European Council reaffirmed their full commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and its principles, at a time when these are being violated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, condemned by the General Assembly of the United Nations”, also emphasizes the informative note of the Council.
The 27 assured that they “remain determined to face the global impact of Russian aggression, and reiterated the demand that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.”
Still on the side of the UN, the released press release noted that “the secretary general discussed the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, underlining his call for a just peace, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on February 23”.
The Heads of State and Government also discussed with António Guterres the Black Sea cereals initiative, considered essential to strengthen world food security, and the UN Secretary General took stock of the state of “efforts to facilitate exports of Russian food and fertilizers” and praised “the EU and its citizens for their solidarity with the Ukrainian refugees,” added the statement from the international organization.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, has plunged Europe into what considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: Observadora
