Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council briefing on United Nations-European Union cooperation
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield delivers a remark at the UNSC briefing on United Nations-EU cooperation
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
US Representative to the United Nations
New-York, New-York
February 23, 2023
AS DELIVERED
Thank you Mr President. We thank Malta for organizing this meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. And High Representative Borrell, thank you for your informative briefing today.
On behalf of the United States, I would like to express my deep appreciation for the European Union’s invaluable contributions to international peace and security through its cooperation with the United Nations.
The United States and the European Union have also built a strong partnership based on shared values and a shared vision. We are firmly committed to the principles of the UN Charter. Principles of territorial integrity, political independence of member states, the right to individual and collective self-defence.
These principles were put to the test by Russia’s unprovoked, all-out invasion of Ukraine — the greatest threat to European security in decades. But as President Biden made clear during his visit to Kiev this week, Russia grossly underestimated Ukraine’s strength. President Putin thought he could divide the international community. But he was wrong. And the international community will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.
The dream of a united, free and peaceful Europe must not just be a wish. It can’t be empty words. It must be realized for all of us to enjoy a safer, fairer and more prosperous world.
Since Russia began its war of aggression, European countries have strengthened their ability to defend themselves. And they have welcomed millions of refugees seeking safety and peace.
The United States, our European allies, and EU partners are working hand-in-hand with UN agencies, other international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to mitigate the humanitarian impact of this war — not just in Ukraine, but around the world. As we all know, this war has exacerbated the global food crisis. And people thousands of miles from Ukraine, particularly in countries in the Middle East and Africa that depend on Ukrainian grain, are in dire need.
That’s why the United States, the European Union, the African Union and Spain organized a Global Food Security Summit last September – right here at the United Nations. Since then, more than 100 member states have pledged to act swiftly and comprehensively to respond to the global food crisis and avert extreme hunger.
This commitment must be backed up by action, by humanitarian aid. And the United States and members of the European Union are among the largest donors to humanitarian and food security organizations, including WFP and FAO.
We heard from High Representative Borrell: EU-UN cooperation is not limited to one issue or area of the world. This partnership is ambitious and far-reaching.
In Haiti, the EU has joined the United Nations basket fund to help improve security.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EU’s continued engagement with Operation EUFOR Althea has been crucial to maintaining peace and security.
And the EU-backed dialogue remains the best path to normalization between Serbia and Kosovo.
In Afghanistan, the United States and the EU have spoken out against the Taliban’s dangerous and ruthless decrees aimed at wiping out Afghan women from society and threatening the lives of millions of innocent people.
And in Africa, the EU has made a vital contribution to security through its cooperation with the United Nations.
Last November, the AU-EU-UN Tripartite Project on Enhancement of AU Compliance and Accountability Framework for Peace Support Operations was launched. This will improve the AU’s ability to ensure that peace support operations are planned and conducted in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law. And this will build on the AU’s African Peace and Security Architecture.
We also welcome the EU’s commitment – along with the African Union and the United Nations – to promote stability in Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic, which will strengthen those countries’ ability to defend themselves without relying on malicious foreign ones leave actors.
In the Indo-Pacific region, the EU is helping to improve maritime security and ensure that shared areas are lawfully managed in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Finally, we welcome the invaluable EU financial support to the United Nations Investigative Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh. The UN team is vital to UNITAD’s efforts to collect, analyze and store evidence to prosecute the atrocities committed by Da’esh.
In all global challenges, the EU is an important partner of the United Nations and the Security Council. And the world is more peaceful, more prosperous, and more secure thanks to this partnership—a partnership we must continue to strengthen in the months and years to come.
Thank you Mr President.
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