Doc. 9780

10 April 2003

Strengthening of the United Nations

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Blaauw and others

      The Assembly,

1.       Acknowledging the increased co-operation between the Council of Europe and the United Nations as reflected in Resolution 57/156 adopted on 16 December 2002 by the General Assembly of the United Nations,

2.       Recognising that the United Nations and Regional Organisations possess various strengths and capabilities in promoting conflict prevention and peace-building and that they need to co-operate closely to these ends,

3.       Recognising also that the Council of Europe, because of its significant expertise in the field of human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, has made an essential contribution to conflict prevention, confidence building and long-term post-conflict peace-building on the European continent through political, legal and institutional reform,

4.       Realising that with the accession of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro the Council of Europe has become a pan-European organisation that is particularly well placed to contribute through regional action to the United Nations’ purposes and principles, in particular in maintaining peace and security and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

5.       Deeply concerned that the events of 11 September and other recent acts of terrorism, the conflicts in Iraq and the Middle East, as well as present and future threats to security and stability, call for a reform of the United Nations so as to increase its capacity to maintain peace and stability in the world on the basis of universal principles,

6.       Underlining the need for Europe to make its voice heard in the process leading to a reform of the United Nations and that the Council of Europe has its proper role to play in this process,

7.       Decides to set up a special working party to reflect upon a reform of the United Nations, with a view to formulating proposals on ways and means to achieve such a reform;

8.       Calls also for a stronger co-operation between the Council of Europe and the United Nations through a better use of the Council of Europe's observer status in the General Assembly through the establishment of a permanent mission in New York.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Blaauw, Netherlands, LDR

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Jakič, Slovenia, LDR

Jařab, Czech Republic, LDR

Kacin, Slovenia, LDR

Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Pericleous Papadopoulos, Cyprus, LDR

Piscitello, Italy, LDR

Ringstad, Norway, LDR

Russell-Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR

Severinson, Denmark, LDR

Škrabalo, Croatia, LDR

Stankevič, Lithuania, LDR

Stoica, Romania, LDR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group