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The EU in the United Nations

The EU in the United Nations

The EU and its Member States collectively are the single largest financial contributor to the UN system. The sum of the contributions of 28 EU Member States amounts to 35% of the UN regular budget and 36.8% of the UN peacekeeping budgets. In addition, the EU and its Member States also provide about one-half of all the voluntary contributions to UN funds and programmes. The European Commission alone contributed more than $1.5 billion in support of UN external assistance programmes and projects in 2013.

The European Union’s commitment to effective multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, is a central element of its external action. This commitment is rooted in the conviction that to respond successfully to global crises, challenges and threats, the international community needs an efficient multilateral system, founded on universal rights and values.

The EU works with all UN bodies, agencies and programmes across virtually the entire range of UN activities, from development policy and peacebuilding to humanitarian assistance, environment, human rights, and culture. As an observer within the UN, the EU has no vote as such but is party to more than 50 UN multilateral agreements and conventions as the only non-State participant. It has obtained a special “full participant” status in a number of important UN conferences. The European Union is represented by delegations accredited to UN bodies in Geneva, Paris, Nairobi, New York, Rome, and Vienna.

brandeu_adminThe EU in the United Nations