Exchange on UN Parliamentary Assembly hosted in European Parliament

Representatives of non-governmental organizations and stakeholders of the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) from around 15 countries gathered in the European Parliament in Brussels on 4th and 5th November for an exchange on the campaign's progress within the past year, an outlook onto the coming activities and to discuss political questions. The meeting included a Round Table consultation and an evening reception with invited guests in which several members of the European Parliament participated. The official host of the conference, the European deputy Jo Leinen, said in his words of welcome that "the aim is to end the current democratic deficit on UN level and to control governments in their decisions". As an example, Mr Leinen stressed the "immense importance" of global parliamentary monitoring in the field of climate regulations. Considering the current global financial crisis and its repercussions on the global economy, Neena Gill MEP pointed out that "the timing of the meeting is really opportune." "We need greater global governance but also real legitimacy. The citizens feel disconnected," Mrs Gill stated.

At the reception, co-hosted by the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly and the Union of European Federalists, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, underscored the parliament's longstanding support for the cause of a UN Parliamentary Assembly and also referred to the welcome message by the European Parliament's President Hans-Gert Pöttering, published the day before. Graham Watson MEP highlighted the campaign's achievements since its launch in April 2007, mentioning in particular that it is now already supported by almost 550 elected representatives from around the world.

One of the conclusions reached at the meeting was that a UNPA would be complementary to the Inter-Parliamentary Union's valuable task of enhancing the role of national parliaments in international affairs. (Picture European Parliament)

EP President Pöttering affirms support for United Nations Parliamentary Assembly

The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, has affirmed the parliament's support for the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations (UNPA). In a welcome message published on the occasion of an international meeting of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (CEUNPA) convening in the European Parliament in Brussels on 4 and 5 November, Mr Pöttering stressed that almost 15 years ago the European Parliament already supported the proposal "as one of the first parliamentary institutions in the world". "Today, in times of globalization, it is much less justifiable than in the past to limit the democratic participation of the citizens of this world to the nation state. This is why we, as European Parliament, support ways and means to give the people a strong representation also at the global level", Mr Pöttering stated. Most recently the European Parliament adopted a call for a UNPA in a resolution on UN reform in June 2005. Several members of the European Parliament are expected to participate in the CEUNPA proceedings in Brussels. The meeting is hosted by EP deputy Jo Leinen. Picture: EP Archive.

Committee: Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Parliament complementary

An analysis recently published by the Committee for a Democratic UN (KDUN) examines the relation between the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) and the work of the international association of national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Frequently it is argued that the functions of a UNPA are already provided by the IPU. The paper instead concludes that the "UNPA provides a pragmatic response to the global governance democratic deficit which is not offered by the IPU." It notes "basic differences" between the IPU and the proposed UNPA: "The IPU is an association of national parliaments which assists them to improve their oversight at the national level in matters of international nature. The UNPA's purpose, by contrast, is to exercise parliamentary functions directly at the international level in its own right." According to the analysis, both institutions are complementary.

Five hundred lawmakers call for world parliament

The international Campaign for the Establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly now is supported by over 500 members of parliament from over 80 countries. "The enthusiastic response of these politicians demonstrates that lawmakers elected at the national level see the necessity of an elected body at the global level and that they now want to take action," said Andreas Bummel, head of the UNPA Campaign Secretariat, in a media release issued to highlight this milestone. The parliamentarians have signed the Campaign's appeal which recommends "a gradual implementation of democratic participation and representation on the global level" through a UN Parliamentary Assembly. The media release features comments of five elected representatives from Argentina, Spain, Canada, Nigeria and Belgium.

Commission of Latin American Parliament joins call for UN Parliamentary Assembly

At its meeting on 12 June 2008 in Colombia's capital Bogotá, the Commission for Political Affairs of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) has unanimously adopted a declaration endorsing "the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly." The document states that "gradual implementation of citizens’ participation and representative democracy at the global level" is essential to reduce the "democratic deficit" in the international arena. A UNPA is regarded as an "indispensable step into this direction". The Commission declares that it "invites all parliamentary organizations to participate actively in the process of its creation." The Argentine deputy Fernando Iglesias, who introduced the motion, said "Elected representatives throughout Latin America are aware of the advantages a UN Parliamentary Assembly will entail. The unanimous decision of the Commission for Political Affairs of Parlatino is an important first step to build political momentum for this cause in the region." The Latin American Parliament was created 1964 and is based on an international treaty concluded 1987 which by now 22 member states from the region have joined. The parliamentary assembly is composed of elected representatives of their national parliaments. Its purpose includes to strengthen human rights and parliamentary democracy. The meeting on 12 June was chaired by the Argentine Senator Sonia Escudero.

Swiss government expresses "sympathy" for UNPA proposal

In its official annual report for 2008 on the relations of Switzerland with the United Nations adopted on 21st May, the Swiss government informs about the participation of Swiss government observers in the first international meeting of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly which gathered in November 2007 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The report now publicly states that at the meeting Switzerland expressed its "sympathy" for the proposal to create a parliamentary body at the UN. "It is increasingly recognized by democrats that participation of civil society is essential throughout the entire UN system. In its yearly report to parliament the Swiss government devotes a whole chapter to this question and thereby expressly supports the creation of a parliamentary assembly. This is an encouragement which probably can also be ascribed to the experience that the Swiss government policy gains acceptance and legitimacy by including parliamentarians into opinion making at the UN," commented Remo Gysin, former member of parliament and Director of the Centre for the Millennium Development Goals (CMDG).

CIVICUS calls for UN to start discussions on Parliamentary Assembly

At a Civil Society Forum on the World Food Crisis hosted by the NGO Section of the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs on 16 May in New York, the main representative of CIVICUS, Vicente García-Delgado, has called for the UN to deliberate the establishment of a parliamentary body. "The peace and security challenges that the hunger crisis and climate change present must be understood as global challenges calling for global solutions that address adequately the concerns of all nations and all peoples," the representative said. Hence institution of global governance need to become "more supra-national". According to the statement, the alliance of civil society organizations considers that a UN Parliamentary Assembly could be a step into this direction: "CIVICUS would welcome the start of discussions at the General Assembly on the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly, as has been called over time by various civil society coalitions, most recently by the World Federation of UN Associations, the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly and others," García-Delgado stated in New York.

UNPA-Campaign representatives visit Pan-African Parliament

From 5th to 9th May a delegation of the Secretariat of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly visited the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa, at the occasion of its 9th session. At its last session in October 2007 the parliamentary body of the African Union had adopted a resolution urging its administration to take “the initiative to achieve the establishment of a consultative United Nations Parliamentary Assembly within the UN system”. In its consultations with PAP officials and PAP members from over 10 countries the UNPA-Campaign delegation has raised the question of how it could assist in this process. The visit was concluded on 9th May with a meeting with PAP President Dr. Gertrude Mongella, on the photo with UNPA-Campaign Secretariat leader Andreas Bummel and Hon. Mokshanand Dowarkasing MP.

Former commander of UNAMIR supports appeal for UN Parliamentary Assembly

The Canadian Senator Roméo Dallaire supports the call for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). "So many of my current causes, projects and interventions in the Parliament of Canada have a single common denominator - the urgent need to transform the United Nations System, to make it more accountable and more responsive to the collective needs, and rights, of the world's citizens. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would be an important step in the right direction,” Dallaire noted. From 1993 to 1994 Dallaire served as force commander of UNAMIR, the United Nations peacekeeping mission for Rwanda. At the time of his command, the ill-equipped mission was faced with the massive genocide lasting for a total of 100 days and leading to the murder of between 800,000 and 1,171,000 Tutsi and Hutu moderates. Dallaire’s efforts to constrain and stop the atrocities have been widely recognized. Proponents of a UNPA argue that if the body had been in place at that time, it could have helped to alert the international community to the urgent need to intervene.

Green World Congress joins call for UNPA

The global green movement joins the call for the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). This statement is included in point 65 of the final declaration adopted by second Global Greens Congress on 4th May in Sao Paulo. A UNPA is regarded as one step to overcome the "international democratic deficit." "In the face of global challenges such as climate change it is pretty clear that we need much more effective international decision-making. This requires that the world's citizens are better included in international institutions," said Senator Isabelle Durant, Secretary-General of the Belgian party Ecolo, in Brasil. "The resolution adopted by the congress underlines that the green movement is convinced that a dialogue is needed on the notion of a bi-cameral system at the UN,” the leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May, noted. The congress in Sao Paulo assembled representatives of green parties and movements from over 80 countries. The Global Greens are the third major international party network to endorse the proposal of a UNPA, following the Liberal International and the Socialist International.