EU Pushes for Expanded UN Role

By Susan Yoshihara, Ph.D. | July 16, 2010

The European Union (EU) is angling for some of the same privileges reserved for member states at the UN, including the ability to address the General Assembly, submit resolutions and amendments, and to reply and make points of order according to UPI.com.

“The draft proposal agreed to by EU members would not change the organization’s observer status, the EUobserver reported. Its representatives would still sit on the sidelines with those from the Vatican, Red Cross and Arab League.

But the plan would allow European Council President Herman Van Rompuy the privilege of addressing the General Assembly like heads of state. The EU would also be able to submit resolutions and amendments, to reply and to make points of order.”

Britain submitted a ministerial letter on Wednesday on behalf of the EU. The move if approved by the General Assembly would further the Lisbon Treaty’s goal of having a joint EU foreign policy.

Many foreign policy experts would be surprised to know that the EU already speaks with one voice at the UN on economic, social and cultural matters. Since these make up the bulk of the UN’s work, additional privileges would only give Europeans a stronger hand against traditional countries on matters such as human life and the family.

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