Women in Parliaments Global Forum stresses the need of gender equality in a future UN Parliamentary Assembly
Participants of the Women in Parliament Summit 2013 in Brussels. Image: (c) European Parliament
The Women in Parliaments Global Forum that has held its first international conference from 27 to 29 November 2013 in the European Parliament in Brussels has emphasized the need "that the gender dimension will be taken into consideration" in the efforts for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.
"We want to ensure gender equality in a new UN Parliamentary Assembly that will address global challenges and take global decisions, on behalf of citizens worldwide," the Global Forum announced on its website.
Following this initiative, the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly has confirmed that ensuring gender equality is an important goal that should be implemented in a future global parliamentary assembly. "This is a matter that we will pursue," said the Co-Chair of the Campaign's Parliamentary Advisory Group, Gabriela Michetti, who is a member of the Argentinian Senate.
In December last year, more than fifty members of the Women in Parliaments Global Forum individually endorsed the international appeal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly that was handed over to a representative of the UN Secretary-General in Brussels.
At the moment, the list of supporters includes 1,281 sitting and former members of parliament from over 100 countries.
Proposal for a UN Parliamentary Assembly presented at forum on "parliaments in global governance"
Jo Leinen MEP
On Tuesday, 18 February, the Parliamentary Forum on “EU Parliaments in global governance”, hosted by the European Parliament's Vice-Presidents Miguel Angel Martínez and Othmar Karas in Brussels, focused on the "role of parliamentarism in an increasingly connected world" and the question whether "current forms of political representation are adequate to address today's international challenges."
The Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Group of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, European lawmaker Jo Leinen, introduced the campaign and its proposal at the afternoon session of the conference that was devoted to global parliamentary initiatives. Mr Leinen emphasized that it was no longer sufficient that parliamentarians occasionally participate as observers in government delegations to intergovernmental organizations. Instead, he said that elected representatives should be formally recognized and included at the UN through a new parliamentary body.
Other speakers at the conference who voiced support of the proposal of a UN Parliamentary Assembly included the Member of the European Parliament Silvana Koch-Mehrin who represented the Women in Parliaments Global Forum and Jan Wouters, a professor of international law and director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies.
The Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Anders Johnson, complained that in his opinion there are too many inter-parliamentary initiatives. He was skeptical towards the idea of a world parliamentary assembly and said that "national parliaments constitute the cornerstone of an international democratic environment" and that "international negotiations are the prerogative of governments, but under scrutiny of national parliaments."
Speaking at the opening session, Othmar Karas stressed his view that parliamentarians should play a "decisive role" in international organizations.
New statements in support of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
Since October, numerous new statements were made
In the past five months since we last posted an overview of new supportive statements on a UN Parliamentary Assembly, many more have accumulated.
If you follow this blog, you've already seen some of the extraordinary statements made on the occasion of the 5th International Meeting on a UN Parliamentary Assembly that was held in Brussels in October 2013 which we published here in full, namely from the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament, Elmar Brok, and the UN's Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable International Order, Alfred de Zayas (by the way, here on Youtube you can watch contributions made by Alfred de Zayas, Hanno Schedler, Antonio Vigilante, and Gerald Häfner at a panel during the conference).
Here are now some of the new sound bites. We begin with a statement from Fernando Iglesias, a former member of parliament from Argentina who was co-chair of the UNPA campaign's parliamentary advisory group and who now serves as council chair of the World Federalist Movement. According to him,
There are different ways to build a better global order and many initiatives for any of them. But there is only one path towards a democratic global order: a world parliament. The campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly currently is the most advanced initiative in existence that works towards this goal.Last year, the Italian member of parliament Federica Mogherini introduced a motion in the Italian parliament in support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly. We asked her to describe briefly why she endorses the proposal. Here's her statement:
Faced with the globalization of economy and finance, the mounting imbalance in the distribution of wealth, or asymmetric threats to international security, the answer that is provided by the cooperation of nation-states is often no longer enough. There's an increased urgency that political institutions and instruments of participation and democracy also go through a process of globalization. That's why I support the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly.The parliamentarian and leader of the Norwegian liberal party Venstre, Trine Skei Grande, described her motiviation to support a UNPA as follows:
We are all global citizens. Our mutual challenges are dealt with by a variety of international institutions and forums, unfortunately with varying lack of effectiveness, and varying lack of transparency and democratic participation. Venstre supports the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly in order to increase democratic participation in the world’s most important international institution.The Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Swiss parliamentarian Liliane Maury Pasquier, said that:
The creation of a consultative Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations would strengthen the legitimacy of the UN and make it breathe some air of democracy. Just like what happens in the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly could function as the UN's democratic conscience and as an engine for change.In a written message addressed to the participants of the conference in Brussels, the Minister of Textiles in the Union Government of India, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, explained:
The UN system as it exists today does not reflect the changing dynamics of the new world order. Minority communities and opinions continue to be neglected. It is essential that a United Nations Parliamentary Asembly comes into place which reflects the vast diversity of this globe. This could result in better collaboration between governments and addresses current concerns like war, poverty, terrorism, drug trafficing etc. in a better manner.Speaking at the conference, the co-founder and secretary-general of the UNPA campaign, Andreas Bummel, emphasized the idea of an inclusive parliamentary assembly that was also part of the final declaration:
A UN Parliamentary Assembly could be designed in more innovative ways than just as a copy of existing parliaments at the global scale. I conceive of it as a Cosmopolitan Congress that deals with all matters that concern humanity. In addition to elected representatives as core members it could also involve other international parliamentary networks as well as cities and local authorities, civil society, and representatives of indigenous peoples and nations.The founder of the feminist initiative of Sweden and former member of parliament Gudrun Schyman said that:
A democratic world parliament could strengthen the voice of our world's women who are often marginalized in the forums of male-dominated national governments. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly would be a decisive step in this direction.As always, we've posted these and more statements here at Flickr and here on Facebook.
Manifesto for Global Democracy presented in Paris
On Tuesday last week, 31 January, the Manifesto for Global Democracy was presented in Paris at an event held at the university Sciences-Po which was attended by around 150 people including students of political sciences and international relations and several civil society activists.
The panelists during the discussion
The speakers included Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the United Nations; Mr. Pascal Lamy, former director of the World Trade Organization; and professors Bertrand Badie (Sciences-Po), Fernando Iglesias (Spinelli Chair, CUIA), Alain Touraine (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales) and Heikki Patomäki (University of Helsinki). The discussion focused on global challenges and how institutions that are responsible to deal with them could be structured in a democratic way.
In the beginning, Fernando Iglesias introduced the manifesto and reported on the previous four presentations that were made in London, Rome, San Sebastián and Buenos Aires during 2012 and 2013. Professor Patomäki referred to different proposals for achieving a more democratic global order, pointing out in particular the creation of a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. Alain Touraine stressed that an initiative like this should have a universal character while Pascal Lamy raised doubts about the possibility of achieving democratic representation on a global scale. Mr. Boutros-Ghali related the initiative of the manifesto with the necessary democratic reform of the international system and the UN itself according to the agenda for democratization that he developed during his term as UN Secretary-General. The host, Bertrand Badie, closed the panel by stressing the importance of the concept of global democracy in order to overcome the limits of the global debate that is currently dominated by the controversy between neoliberalism and populist nationalism.
Among other things, the manifesto includes support for "a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly as the embryo of a future World Parliament." The next presentation of the manifesto will take place in the last week of March in Helsinki.
Read more:
Presentation of the manifesto in Rome in 2012
Publication of the manifesto in June 2012
Appel pour une assemblée parlementaire présentée aux représentants de l’ONU
Les parlementaires de 100 pays demandent aux Nations unies d’établir une assemblée parlementaire
Plus de 1 250 parlementaires, anciens et actuels de plus de 100 pays et des centaines personnalités renommées du monde politique, de la science, de la culture et de la société civile ont signé un appel international demandant à l’ONU et à ses Etats-membres d’ « établir une Assemblée Parlementaire aux Nations Unies ». Jeudi, l’appel et la liste des signataires ont été officiellement présentés au représentant
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| Jo Leinen, Antonio Vigilante et Andreas Bummel |
| Image: CEUNPA |
du Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies auprès des institutions européennes à Bruxelles, Antonio Vigilante.
L’appel qui a aussi été signé par environ 400 professeurs de 50 Etats stipule que « pour relever les grands défis tels que les disparités sociales, la proliférations des armes de destruction massive, la menace terroriste ou la mise en danger des écosystèmes, tous les êtres humains doivent s’engager dans des efforts collaboratifs ». Il est affirmé que « les individus doivent être impliqués de manière plus directe et efficiente dans les activités des Nations Unies et de ses organisations internationales », il recommande « une mise en place graduelle de la participation er représentation démocratique au niveau global ». L’appel a été lancé initialement en 2007 et est continuellement ouvert aux signatures.
Lors de la présentation, le co-président de la campagne internationale pour une Assemblée Parlementaire aux Nations Unies et membre du Parlement Européen, Jo Leinen, a souligné que « la vie quotidienne des citoyens du monde est de plus en plus définie par des forces économiques, politiques et sociales qui dépassent les frontières nationales ». Une Assemblée Parlementaire aux Nations Unies « permettrait aux représentants citoyens d’être directement impliqués dans des délibérations politiques globales, la maitrise de l’agenda politique et le processus de décision.
Le Secrétaire Général de la campagne, Andreas Bummel, a insisté sur le fait que L’ONU bénéficierait de l’inclusion de représentants élus dans la mesure où cela rapprocherait l’organisation internationale des citoyens du monde. Il a rappelé que l’établissement d’un Assemblée Parlementaire à l’ONU a été soutenue entre autres par l’Union européenne, le Parlement panafricain et le Parlement latino-américain.
Proposition pour une Assemblée Parlementaire au Forum pour le Futur des Droits Humains
Une nouvelle Assemblée Parlementaire établirait son propre Comité pour les Droits Humains, pour les violations mineures, il offrirait des solutions et proposerait des services de conseil et une assistance technique, suggèrent les experts
La Proposition pour une Assemblée Parlementaire mondiale a été présentée à un comité sur les nouvelles structures internationales qui s’est rassemblé lors du Forum pour le Futur des Droits Humains à Genève, le 10 décembre 2013, le jour du 65ème anniversaire de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme. Le représentant de la Campagne internationale pour une Assemblée Parlementaire à l’ONU, Andreas Bummel, qui a présenté la proposition a souligné qu’au contraire des principaux organes onusiens, le Conseil des droits de l’Homme inclus,
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| Discussion sur les nouvelles structures internationales au Forum pour le Futur des Droits Humains |
| Image: CEUNPA |
une nouvelle assemblée telle que celle-là serait composée de représentants élus et non de diplomates de carrière. Selon M. Bummel, une assemblée parlementaire mondiale créerait son propre Comité des droits de l’Homme pour gérer la complaisance mineure et se renseigner sur des situations spécifiques. « Les dynamiques d’un tel comité parlementaire sur les droits humains seraient complètement différentes de ce qui existe au sein du Conseil des droits de l’Homme », a affirmé l’expert. Ce gouvernement faisant aussi office de structure indépendante viendrait en complément des organes onusiens existants et pourrait contribuer à « promouvoir les droits humains dans le monde ».
Il a été souligné que le principal but d’une nouvelle assemblée serait de donner la parole « aux citoyens du monde ». Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de l’humanité il existerait un organe politique représentant l’ensemble de l’humanité » a déclaré M. Bummel, insistant sur le fait que l’ONU est une organisation interétatique.
L’expert indépendant de l’ONU sur la démocratisation, Alfred de Zayas, qui a animé le comité sur les nouvelles structures internationales a dit que la création d’une Assemblée Parlementaire aux Nations Unies a pour but de « renforcer la place des citoyens du monde et de leur permettre une participation directe au processus de décision qui les affecte. La démocratie repose sur la consultation et la participation et une Assemblée Parlementaire à l’ONU peut permettre d’avancer vers cet objectif de manière significative. ."
Lors du discours d’ouverture de la conférence, Jan Martenson, ancien sous-secrétaire des nations unies aux droits de l’Homme au bureau de Genève, a souligné que l’idée d’un parlement mondial avait déjà été avancée au XVIII siècle et bien qu’elle soit longtemps restée « une patate chaude », le temps est venu pour de telles idées.
Le président de la conférence, John Pace, un ancien haut fonctionnaire au Haut Commissariat de l’ONU pour les droits de l’Homme et organisateur de la conférence mondiale sur les Droits de l’Homme à Vienne en 1993, a signalé que la proposition pour une assemblée parlementaire mondiale qui potentiellement renforcerait les droits de l’Homme dans le monde devait faire l’objet de sérieuses considérations. Le Président du Forum pour le Futur des Droits Humains Eric Sottas, a fait remarqué que le forum pousserait le même sujet plus loin.
D’autres projets ont été discutés à la conférence qui a rassemblé environ 250 participants et notamment, l’établissement d’une Cour Internationale pour les Droits Humains, l’élaboration d’un Bill of Rights qui permettrait d’englober tous les traités existants depuis la déclaration universelle, éradiquer l’écocide et parvenir à un monde sans torture.
Site du web du Forum pour le Futur des Droits Humains
Le nouveau gouvernement allemand incité au développement d’un parlement onusien
L’Association allemande pour les Nations Unies adopte une résolution et supporte les recommandations de l’expert indépendant de l’ONU sur la démocratisation.
A la suite des élections législatives allemandes, la prestigieuse Association allemande pour Nations Unies (DGVN) a demandé au nouveau gouvernement de développer des propositions pour l’établissement d’une assemblée parlementaire aux Nations Unies. Une résolution adoptée lors de l’assemblée générale de l’association stipule qu’une assemblée parlementaire permettrait d’introduire « la participation parlementaire et la supervision au niveau onusien».
Le président de l'ANU-Allemagne et ancien parlementaire
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| Detlef Dzembritzki, président de l'ANU-Allemagne, a appuyé la résolution |
| Image: ANU-Allemagne |
Detlef Dzembritzki a déclaré qu’un organe parlementaire est requis à l’ONU afin « d’améliorer la qualité démocratique de l’organisation internationale. » Le vice-président de l’association et représentant fédéral ré-élu Jürgen Klimke a souligné que selon lui, le Buntesdag allemand devrait s’emparer de la questions qui s’était déjà posée en Juin. Ekkehard Griep, l’autre vice-président de ANU-Allemagne, a insisté sur le fait que le gouvernement et le Parlement allemand évaluent sérieusement la question.
Dans le même temps, la résolution de l’ANU-Allemagne a appuyé deux recommandations mis en avant plus tôt dans l’année par Alfred De Zayas, expert indépendant des Nations unies pour un Ordre Démocratique et Équitable. Il a recommandé que le Conseil de Droits de l’Homme demande un rapport sur la question d’une assemblée parlementaire à l’ONU et que l’Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies considère la tenue d’une conférence sur le sujet.
Demande a été soulevée par l'ANU-Allemagne depuis 2005
La création d’une assemblée parlementaire à l’ONU était déjà soutenue par l’ANU-Allemagne à l’occasion des élections législatives de 2005 et 2009. En 2011, l’association réunie avec 40 autres organisations non-gouvernementales allemandes et de nombreuses personnalités, ont envoyé une lettre ouverte commune au Chancelier allemand et au Ministre des Affaires étrangères demandant une résolution du Parlement Européen qui inclurait un appel pour une assemblée parlementaire onusienne.
La Fédération Internationale des Associations pour les Nations Unies (WFUNA), organisation chapeautant l’ANU-Allemagne, a adopté une résolution soutenant une assemblée parlementaire à l’ONU lors de son congrès international à Buenos Aires en 2006.
L’assemblée générale de l’ANU-Allemangne a eu lieule 7 décembre 2013. La veille, lors d’une cérémonie la Médaille d’honneur Dag Hammarskjöld a été remise à l’ancien procureur général des procès de Nuremberg, Benjamin Ferencz et à la Cour Pénale Internationale représentée par la procureure Fatou Bensouda.
Lire plus
29 octobre 2013: Un expert suggère une conférence de l'ONU sur une Assemblée Parlementaire Mondiale
18 septembre 2013: L'expert de l'ONU recommande une étude sur l'APNU, l'Égypte exprime son soutien
14 juin 2013: Le sous-comité aux Nations Unies examine la question d'une APNU
Image du haut: Cérémonie à la veille de l'assemblée générale, par l'ANU-Allemagne
New German government urged to develop proposals for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
United Nations Association of Germany adopts resolution, supports recommendations of the UN's Independent Expert on Democratization
Following the German federal elections, the prestigious United Nations Association of Germany urged the new German government and the parliament to develop proposals for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. A resolution adopted by the association's general meeting in Frankfurt am Main states that a parliamentary assembly would serve the purpose of introducing "parliamentary participation and oversight at the level of the United Nations."
The chairperson of UNA-Germany and former parliamentarian
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| Detlef Dzembritzki, chair of UNA-Germany, supported the resolution |
| Bild: DGVN |
Detlef Dzembritzki said that a parliamentary body at the UN is required in order "to improve the democratic quality of the world organization." The association's vice-chair and re-elected federal representative Jürgen Klimke emphasized that in his opinion, the German Bundestag should deal with this question in the new legislative term and that it would be possible to build on a meeting that was already held in June. Ekkehard Griep, the other vice-chair of UNA-Germany, stressed that the point is that the German government and parliament make a serious assessment of the proposal.
The resolution of UNA-Germany at the same time endorsed two recommendations put forward earlier this year by the UN's Independent Expert on a Democratic and Equitable Order, Alfred de Zayas. He recommended that the Human Rights Council should commission a study on the question of a UN Parliamentary Assembly and that the UN General Assembly should consider convening a conference on the matter.
Request has been raised by UNA-Germany since 2005
The creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly was already supported by UNA-Germany on the occasion of the German federal elections in 2005 and 2009. In 2011 the association joined around 40 other German non-governmental organizations and numerous personalities in sending a joint open letter to the German chancellor and foreign minister that endorsed a resolution of the European Parliament that included a call for a UN Parliamentary Assembly.
The international umbrella organization of UNA-Germany, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), adopted a resolution in support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly at its World Congress in Buenos Aires in 2006.
The general meeting of UNA-Germany was held on 7 December 2013. At a ceremony the day before, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal of Honor was awarded to the former chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Tribunal Benjamin Ferencz and to the International Criminal Court which was represented by prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
Read more
16 September 2013: UN expert recommends study on a UN Parliamentary Assembly, Egypt voices support
Top image: Ceremony on the day before the general meeting, by UNA-Germany
Political Platform of the Young European Federalists calls for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
JEF action for a Europe without borders in Brussels with Jo Leinen MEP who is also Co-Chair of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Over 160 young delegates from sections of the Young European Federalists (JEF) coming from all over Europe gathered in Paris on 1-3 November 2013 for the organization's XXII. European Congress.
Seven months ahead of the European elections, JEF adopted a renewed political platform stating the organization's demands for the future of Europe. In a section on "Federalism in Europe and the World," the new political platform includes support for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly:
A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly should also be established as a consultative body within the United Nations system as a voice of the citizens. A United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) for the first time would give citizen representatives, not only states, a direct and influential role in global policy. The assembly would not replace existing UN bodies but would be an additional means to integrate parliamentarians more effectively into the shaping of globalization. As a transitional step until direct elections become practical, the UN Parliamentary Assembly could consist of delegates from national and possibly regional parliaments, reflecting their political diversity. The UNPA would therefore include members of minority parties whose opinions are often not represented in the United Nations.JEF is a pan-European network of young people established in 1972. The network now includes 31 official member sections and about 30,000 activists in over 35 countries. According to the organization's statutes, the goal of JEF is the creation of a democratic European federation as a crucial ingredient for peace, a guarantee for a more free, just and democratic society and a first step towards a world federation.
The congress in Paris re-elected Pauline Gessant as the organization's president.
JEF website
JEF online magazine "The New Federalist"
Now is the time: The European Union should support a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Last month, the UN's independent expert on democracy, Alfred de Zayas, told the organistion's General Assembly that the UN should convene an international conference to debate the establishment of a World Parliamentary Assembly. Now it's the time for the EU to take a stand and support the proposal, write Jo Leinen and Andreas Bummel.
Andreas Bummel (left) and Jo Leinen (right) at a meeting in Strasbourg in 2011
The European Union, it is said, is a value-based community. One of the core values of this unique supranational community is democracy. The EU cares about promoting freedom and democracy not only within its own borders, but worldwide. An important step was the establishment of the European Endowment for Democracy last year to supports pro-democracy efforts in transition countries. The problem is that in our time of unprecedented and increasing global interdependence democratization is no longer a matter that can be limited to the level of the nation-state. Decision-making in global forums and institutions has a strong impact on national policies in all sorts of areas but it is still in the exclusive purview of government executives. This undermines the influence and weight of parliaments everywhere and negates important democratic principles such as checks and balances.
The EU's own experience shows that growing interdependence and cooperation makes it necessary to develop democracy beyond the level of the nation-state. Although it is always stressed that there is no global integration process that could be compared to what has been done in Europe, the reality looks otherwise. The simple example of the financial system shows that global integration already exists. It is true, however, that the process of globalization is incomplete and hardly under any meaningful political control. There is a widespread denial to acknowledge this and to aspire the obvious, namely to renovate global political institutions so they are actually able to address the issues of our global civilization. In many political areas of vital importance such as climate change mitigation, disarmament, eradication of poverty, financial governance, or world trade, it is obvious that the existing international institutions achieve too little, too slowly.
Despite its vast treasure of experience and its support of democracy, the EU so far has not stood out with regard to the democratization of the United Nations. One suggestion that has been put forward by the European Parliament again and again since 1994 is the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, UNPA. Most recently on 8 June 2011, the European Parliament passed the recommendation to the EU Council "to advocate the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly within the UN system in order to increase the democratic nature, the democratic accountability and the transparency of global governance and to allow for greater public participation in the activities of the UN." Five months later, responding to a formal parliamentary question, the EU Council noted that it was aware of the recommendation but that it does not have a position on the matter. As far as we can tell, until now it still has no position. What is more, the Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, did not follow up on the matter and neither has the EU Council's President Herman Van Rompuy. At the very least, the European Parliament's proposal should have been mentioned in one of the speeches at the United Nations, now that the EU has a special status at the General Assembly.
A UNPA could begin modestly as a largely consultative body attached to the UN, composed of national or optionally of directly elected parliamentarians. As the European Parliament's President Martin Schulz pointed out recently on the occasion of the 5th International Meeting on a UNPA in the European Parliament, the European Parliament may serve as a model for how a UN Parliamentary Assembly could develop over time: "What once began as an advisory body composed of national parliamentarians is a directly elected legislature today, even if the development is still ongoing."
Just as the European Parliament was decisive in pushing European integration and democratization ahead, a UNPA could be instrumental to finally bring about real reforms at the UN and to "achieve democratic control of globalization," as former UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali said. The prospect of achieving a breakthrough in UN reform in particular should make this project interesting to many governments once they look into it seriously. In fact, the UN's Independent Expert on democratization, Alfred de Zayas, has now recommended to the UN to take steps to study the UNPA proposal, either at an international conference or through the Advisory Committee of the UN's Human Rights Council. Speaking at the UN Mr. de Zayas stated that "if the United Nations General Assembly is to be revitalized and strengthened, it also needs to be made more democratic and representative. Complementing the General Assembly with a parliamentary body could be a key to achieving other reforms to the United Nations system."
This is the moment for the European Union and its governments to wake up and to seize the initiative. With the necessary political will it is possible to overcome the key challenges that are connected with such a complex endeavor like the creation of a global parliamentary body. The democratic countries need to assume the responsibility that the project goes into the right direction. It would be highly deplorable and against the expressed wish of the European Parliament, if the EU would continue to remain inactive.
Jo Leinen is a member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the advisory group of the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Andreas Bummel is the campaign's secretary-general. They are working on a book discussing the creation of a world parliament. This opinion piece was originally published on 6 November 2013 by EurActiv.com.