Report on the analysis and critical assessment of EU engagement in UN bodies
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Date
2014-11-30
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Fostering Human Rights among European Policies Large-Scale FP7 Collaborative Project
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Abstract
The first deliverable of Work Package No 5 (WP 5) presents the outcome of the analysis and critical assessment of EU human rights engagement in UN bodies. The EU has committed itself in the Treaty
on the European Union to ‘promote multilateral solutions to common problems, in particular in the
framework of the United Nations.’ In light of this provision, and taking into account the considerable
challenges the EU-UN cooperation encounters, the present report aims at four goals. Firstly, to map
the long-standing and multifaceted engagement of the EU within and towards UN human rights
bodies. Secondly, to critically assess the EU’s engagement in the UN from the perspective of both its
policy and institutions. Thirdly, to identify specific and structural flaws in the EU’s approach to human
rights at the UN. Fourthly, to find creative ways of enhancing the EU’s position, role, inclusion in and
impact upon these UN bodies.
The deliverable consists of seven chapters.
The first chapter presents the aims of the report and the methodology of the research. It also explains
the key concepts of the deliverable, such as coherence, leadership or mutual influence between the
EU and the UN.
The second chapter explores two of the guiding principles of the EU’s external policy: human rights
and multilateralism. In particular, it contains an analysis of the Union’s commitment to ‘effective
multilateralism’ and consistency of specific human rights priorities throughout the EU legislation and
other documents.
The third chapter presents the institutional framework of the EU-UN relations. As both, the EU and
the UN, share a common trait – a high complexity of their organisational structure, chapter III begins
with a detailed mapping of both organisations. It also explains the role of different stakeholders in the
EU-UN cooperation. This chapter also tackles the relationships between stakeholders and the
coordination of the EU’s position at the UN. The status of the EU in the UN is also explored from the
point of view of the legal framework of both organisations.
The fourth chapter presents the processes and dynamics behind the formulation of EU human rights
aims, objectives and priorities at the UN. It indicates the critical factors, relevant actors and their roles
as well as the overall characteristics of the process. The chapter also provides a detailed analysis of
the EU’s specific goals and objectives at the UN as well as their consistency. The report focuses on the
Union’s priorities with regard to (i) thematic human rights issues, (ii) its country-specific priorities, and
(iii) its aims and objectives relating to the institutional architecture of the UN.
The fifth chapter concerns the tools and methods deployed by the EU at the UN. Particular attention
has been paid to the issue of the EU’s resolution initiatives in UN human rights fora: the UNGA Third
Committee and the HRC. The analysis focuses on resolution initiatives tabled by the Union, but also
tackles the national initiatives of the EU Member States and the co-sponsoring of resolutions by the
EU/Member States. It also explores the EU’s involvement in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
process. Taking into account that the EU does not formally participate in the UPR, the involvement of
its Member States is analysed, also from the point of view of realisation of EU human rights priorities.
This section also explains the notion of light-coordination. Finally, the fifth chapter explores the EU’s
FRAME Deliverable No. 5.1
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financial contribution to UN human rights activities, in particular to the Office of the High
Commissioner of Human Rights.
The deliverable is supplemented by four case studies included in chapter six of the deliverable. They
are related to EU’s engagement in specific thematic topics at the UN covering the areas of: economic,
social and cultural rights, human rights defenders, the right to development and counterterrorism.
The final chapter presents the conclusions of the research. Due to the comprehensive nature of the
analysis of the various dimensions of EU-UN interaction, the report seeks not only to advance the
existing knowledge on the topic, but also to create a broad base for future research. In particular, the
findings of this study will constitute the background for next deliverables of this work package on the
Union’s engagement with regional multilateral organisations.
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Keywords
prawa człowieka, Unia Europejska, Organizacja Narodów Zjednoczonych
Citation
Report on the analysis and critical assessment of EU engagement in UN bodies