EU-US Summit Facts Brief No. 6

DECLARATION OF THE EU PRESIDENCY
ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
ON THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE UN

The European Union strongly deplores the fact that the US Congress has suspended its autumn session proceedings without adopting any legislation concerning the payment of the arrears due to the UN, and that the US, the largest contributor to the Organisation, but above all its largest debtor, is not signifying any intention to start settling its debts.

It is very worrying that one of the UN’s major Members continues not to fulfil its responsibilities under the UN Charter, which fall within its commitments under international law. The absence of any decision by the US Congress on the payment of arrears comes at a time when the UN is making an unprecedented effort to reform its structures and methods of operation.

The fact that the US continues to not pay the arrears in contributions it owes the Organisation, perpetuates the serious financial crisis with which the UN is struggling, and seriously affects the climate of trust within the Organisation.

The European Union is counting on all UN Member States to honour their obligations vis-à-vis the UN promptly, in full and unconditionally, in accordance with the scale of quotas adopted by the General Assembly.

That is the approach taken by the Member States of the European Union, whose combined contributions account for 35.4% of the Organisation’s regular budget and 37.9% of its budget for peace-keeping operations. They act in this way because they are convinced of the need to preserve the irreplaceable role of the UN as the only international organisation of a universal character which takes global action in the cause of peace, social equality and justice.

Back to EU-US Summit Index