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Multilateral Relations
We cannot tackle global challenges alone. The EU is committed to preserving and strengthening the rules-based multilateral international order, with the United Nations at its core.
The world is a complex, rapidly changing and often dangerous place. The European Union believes that by working together through international cooperation, based on common rules and with effective global institutions such as the United Nations, enables the world to deal with complex issues such as climate change and conflict. This international approach, known as multilateralism, was re-endorsed by all 28 EU Foreign Ministers when they met at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 17th June.
The latest Global Trends Report by the UN Refugee Agency shows that 70.8 million people were forcibly displaced in 2018 due to conflicts, crises, persecution, natural disasters and the impact of climate change. In other words, in 2018 every minute 25 people were forced to flee. And every second refugee was a child.
Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle – the candidate supported by the EU, for the position of Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, is no stranger to the many and complex challenges facing the next Director-General.
"40 years ago, Vienna became one of the global capitals of multilateralism and international cooperation. And from the very first moment the European Union was there to work side-by-side with the UN, with its agencies and with the OSCE."
