The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has concluded a two-day visit to Brussels on 18 and 19 March, during which he participated in an informal discussion with members of the European Council.
EU leaders were meeting in Brussels on 19 March to address the military escalation in the Middle East and the situation in Iran, including its consequences on the EU in terms of energy prices and energy security.
United Nations Secretary General was invited for a working lunch to discuss the deteriorating international situation and how the EU and its partners can work together to defend multilateralism.
The Secretary-General has also had separate bilateral meetings with the President of the European Council, António Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
He met Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus and Leader of the Greek Cypriot community, and Maxime Prévot, the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation.
Among the issues discussed were the state of the world, international affairs, the relationship between the United Nations and the European Union (EU), and the broader issue of multilateralism.
The Secretary-General’s two messages to the belligerents in the Middle East
In a media stakeout given at the European Council on 19 March, the Secretary General delivered two strong messages :
“First, to the United States and to Israel:
It’s high time to end this war that is risking to get completely out of control, causing immense suffering on civilians and with propagation around the global economy, that is really dramatic with potential tragic consequences, especially for the least developed countries.
Second message, to Iran:
Stop attacking your neighbours; they were never parties to the conflict.
The Security Council has condemned these attacks, has ordered them to stop, as it has ordered to open the Strait of Hormuz.
The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain in so many people around the world that have nothing to do with this conflict.
It’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of the force. It’s time for diplomacy to prevail over war.”
The crucial importance of the EU-UN partnership
In his message to the press, the Secretary General also stated that “the EU and the UN have exemplary cooperation, and the EU has been a fundamental support for the UN and for multilateralism.
And I hope, I’m sure, the European Union will be absolutely central in the efforts to create an international order based on the rule of law, an international order in which we will have more justice, in which we will have more climate action, in which we will have more control of the evolution of technologies and in which international law will prevail.”
Ukraine, the Middle East and AI discussed with António Costa, President of the European Council
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council. Mr. Guterres thanked Mr. Costa for his support for the United Nations and multilateralism.
They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union on various global issues. They also exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
The Secretary-General and the President of the European Council discussed the latest developments regarding Artificial Intelligence.
Recognition of the European Commission‘s support to the UN
Mr. Guterres thanked Ms. von der Leyen for the Commission’s support for the United Nations. They exchanged views on cooperation between the UN and the EU and on the broader state of multilateralism.
They also discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the Secretary-General’s recent trip to Lebanon, the war in Ukraine, and UN reform.
In a separate meeting, Antonio Guterres met with Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus and Leader of the Greek Cypriot community. They discussed the way forward on the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Middle East.
“Belgium remains a reliable ally of the UN”, says the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
On his first day in Brussels, on 18 March, the Secretary-General also met Maxime Prévot, the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation.
The Belgian Foreign Minister reaffirmed that “Belgium remains a reliable ally of the United Nations, its principles, and its values”. The Secretary-General thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for Belgium’s support to the United Nations across a broad range of areas, including ongoing support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Again, a number of international crises were discussed, especially in the Middle East, as well as the broader challenges currently facing multilateralism. Mr. Guterres updated Mr. Prévot on the ongoing UN80 Initiative, as well the financial situation of the United Nations.
