Vienna, 25 April 2008 - "For us, the close partnership between the EU and the UN are not empty words. In 2006 alone, our successful cooperation resulted in food aid for 43 million people, including 26 million children. 33 million refugees and internally displaced persons also received support. 49 million square meters of land were cleared of mines and explosives. The EU member states account for 38% of the UN budget, more than half of the worldwide payments for development cooperation and the highest contribution for humanitarian aid," stated Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik at today's panel discussion with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Slovenian Foreign Minister and current EU Council President Dimitrij Rupel in the Large Hall of the Austrian Stock Exchange on "Cooperation between the EU and the UN in Managing the Challenges of the 21st Century". 

"The EU and the UN pursue the same goals and strengthen one another. Joining our forces is indispensable for meeting the global challenges effectively. However, optimal division of tasks is a prerequisite for this," emphasised Plassnik. The EU had developed the principle of subsidiarity for this purpose. "We should also apply this principle to the relationship between the UN and regional organisations such as the EU or the African Union. We want to help people to help themselves. The political will of those immediately involved in a region cannot be replaced permanently by either the EU or the UN. Regional organisations should be encouraged to assume full responsibility for their immediate environment," continued Plassnik. 

This was clearly demonstrated by the EU's current commitment to Chad, where the European Union was active on the basis of a UN mandate: "With this bridging mission we are supporting the UN in its aid for our African partners so they can find their own African solution to an African problem," stated the Foreign Minister. 

"The EU must also be prepared to assume its own responsibility in Europe, with the UN as a partner,” emphasised Plassnik, referring to the EU missions in Macedonia, Bosnia and Kosovo. “The European civilian mission EULEX in Kosovo in particular is a practical example of the development of division of work between the UN and the EU. Together we are working for a Kosovo in which all human beings may live in peace and security, regardless of their ethnic origin," affirmed Plassnik. 

"The UN and its Secretary-General may count on the EU and Austria as reliable, strong partners at the global level. We are working unflinchingly side by side on combating terrorism, achieving disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and in managing climate change," asserted the Foreign Minister. 

"The stronger involvement of women in conflict solutions and peace work is also one of our common concerns. By appointing seven women in high-ranking UN positions, Ban Ki-moon has sent out important signals. I encourage him to systematically pursue this course," concluded Plassnik.