Union of European Federalists strengthens support for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

Federal Committee adopts resolution at meeting in Cologne / calls on European Parliament to reaffirm its support for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA)

The Union of European Federalists, in short UEF, a pan-European, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity and integration, called on the European Parliament and the parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs "to reaffirm their support for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly."

In a resolution adopted by the UEF's Federal Committee on November 5 in Cologne, the movement pointed out that "the UN and global intergovernmental organizations need to become more democratic and representative if they are to gain the support of the citizens, maintain their legitimacy and credibility in implementing global policy and extend their competences in the future to subjects such as climate change mitigation, sustainable use of natural resources, economic governance, poverty reduction, and the promotion of human and social rights."

The document stressed that "neither the UN or any other global intergovernmental institutions provides for any formal mechanism that allows members of parliament to be involved in their work."

In view of the European Parliament's pioneering role in promoting a UN Parliamentary Assembly, starting in 1994, the UEF expressed regret that "the European Parliament as a whole so far failed to adopt language in support of a UNPA during the current 8th legislative term" which began in 2014.

The Federal Committee called on the 24 UEF member organizations across Europe "to strengthen their efforts relative to convincing their respective EU member state government and parliament to endorse the establishment of a UNPA as a common EU position."

The UEF is currently lead by the chairperson of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Elmar Brok. In 2013, the organization co-hosted the 5th international meeting on a UNPA convened in the European Parliament in Brussels.

In January this year, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, expressed her continued support for a UNPA.

The next European election will be held in 2019.

Top image: Opening meeting of the Federal Committee, photo by UEF