Spanish Foreign Minister: Creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly should be considered
In an article published in the newspaper El País in Madrid today, the Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell stated that the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 "may be a good moment to analyse at a summit some institutional changes necessary to increase its legitimacy and effectiveness, such as the reform of the Security Council to make it more representative and limit the use of the vetoes of the great powers, or the establishment of a parliamentary assembly, thus strengthening the role of civil society and the democratic dimension of the multilateral system."
The piece was published on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December 2018. Among other things, Borrell pointed out that the declaration is based on a multilateralist approach that needs to be supported now more than ever as more and more issues are transnational in nature. "At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the multilateralism that underlies its conception is of strategic importance; it is nothing less than a necessity for the survival of humanity," he wrote. According to Borrell, it is necessary for Spain to defend international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations but also to help "reform them in order to strengthen world governance."
Josep Borrell assumed office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation following a change of government in June 2018 when Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Socialist Party, became Spanish prime minister. Previously, Borrell was President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007, among other things.
In a resolution adopted in July, the European Parliament called on the European Union's governments to advocate "the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly" and to support a "UN 2020 summit" that will consider "comprehensive reform measures for a renewal and strengthening of the United Nations."
El País is one of the most read and most circulated newspapers in Spain.
Top image: Josep Borrell speaking on 29 November 2018 (by Casa de América/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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Daniel Jositsch
The escalating crisis in international cooperation shows that new ways must be found to combat global problems. The United Nations brings together diplomats appointed by member state governments. It is time for an additional body composed of democratically elected representatives: a UN Parliamentary Assembly.
Yves Leterme
The world needs more courageous decisions in order to address the urgent global issues of mass migration, terrorism without borders and climate change. These problems are too important to leave them over to national leaders only. Global Governance with a citizen's driven democratic legitimacy and accountability is the right way to make the difference we need. That's why I support the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly.
World congress of United Nations associations calls for a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Resolution adopted at Plenary Assembly in Punta Cana anticipates a UN Reform Summit in 2020
View of the plenary in Punta Cana, by WFUNA/Twitter
The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), calls on UN member states, parliamentarians, civil society and its more than 100 member organizations across the world to "support steps towards the creation of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly" (UNPA).
A declaration adopted unanimously at WFUNA's 42nd Plenary Assembly in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, this Friday explains further that the new UN body should be attached to the UN General Assembly and allow for "formal participation of parliamentarians in the work of the UN."
The resolution that was jointly proposed by the UN associations of Germany, Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom states that the UN "must address the democratic deficit within global decision-making processes" if it is to be successful "in the pursuit of creating a better world for all and ensuring that no one is left behind."
"We hope that a UNPA will strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the UN," commented UNA-Germany's board member Hannah Birkenkötter in Punta Cana. Ben Donaldson, the Head of Campaigns at UNA-UK said that "we need a world organisation that truly represents the world. A UNPA would be a major step towards this goal."
The resolution adopted at the world congress says further that there should be "an open and inclusive intergovernmental preparatory process under the auspices of the UN General Assembly for a UN 2020 summit that considers comprehensive reform measures, including the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly."
The document acknowledges the ongoing international Campaign for a UNPA that has received support of more than 1,500 member of parliament across party lines, among others. It also refers to endorsements of a UNPA by the European Parliament, the Latin-American Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament.
"The World Federation of United Nations Associations not only brings together the world's strongest supporters of the UN but also those who perhaps have the best understanding of how the world organization operates. Their call for a UN Parliamentary Assembly has great significance," said Andreas Bummel, the UNPA Campaign's Secretary-General. "The pressure on the UN and its member states to finally consider this proposal is growing," he stated.
Top image: WFUNA plenary by UNA-Denmark/Twitter
Read WFUNA's resolution
Hazel Henderson
As a longtime enthusiastic supporter of the United Nations as the world’s best convener and promoter of global democratic standards and norms for humanity’s common future on this planet, I am honored to support the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. A Parliamentary Assembly will augment all the positive global programs embodied in the UN Sustainable Development Goals which I support and promote, as well as the UN Principles of Responsible Investment, of which our company is a signatory member.
Mexican legislators call for a review of the UN Charter and "effective international legislation"
The Commission on Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Congress supports a United Nations conference to review the UN's Charter of 1945 and calls on the new Mexican government to pursue the matter at the upcoming UN General Assembly
Following Mexico's general election in July that was won by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Juntos Haremos Historia alliance, the Sub-Commission on Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Education of the Permanent Commission of the Mexican Congress which includes legislators of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and the Senate called on the new Mexican federal government to push for UN reforms "in accordance with the UN's Charter" at the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly which will be opened on September 18.
Deputy Macedonio Tamez and Francisco Plancarte in Mexico City. Image: CEMERG
The declaration adopted on August 14 says that the next UN General Assembly should take a decision to convene a General Review conference as provided for in Article 109 of the UN's Charter. The document explains that in the light of global issues "Mexico and the international community must respond to the world population with a new paradigm of global governance and with international legislation that is effective to tackle new threats to peace and worldwide stability."
The resolution was tabled by Mexican deputy Macedonio Tamez, leader of the parliamentary group of the Movimiento Ciudadano in the outgoing legislative term. Commenting on the declaration, Mr. Tamez said that "We support the call for open and inclusive intergovernmental preparations of a UN reform summit in 2020. This will be a good opportunity to launch a review of the UN Charter. In addition, we endorse the efforts for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly as a first step towards a world parliament."
"Preparations for a UN Charter Review Conference and the creation of a global parliament are overdue," commented Francisco Plancarte, a Mexican lawyer and long-time promoter of UN transformation according to Art. 109 of the San Francisco Charter with Planetafilia and now the Centro Mexicano de Responsabilidad Global, CEMERG.
With the declaration, Mexican legislators are adding momentum to international calls for an overhaul of the UN's structure and a UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA) ahead of the UN's 75th anniversary in 2020. In July, the European Parliament requested the European Union's governments to promote the creation of a UNPA and early preparations for a UN 2020 Reform Summit.
Observers hope that another boost for global governance reforms may be achieved through the Paris Peace Forum that will take place from 11-13 November 2018 on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. The Global Challenges Foundation in Stockholm is supporting working groups that are to present proposals.
Top image: Cristiano Oliveira/Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Read the declaration
Spanish original
English translation
Marietta Karamanli
Alors que le multilatéralisme et la solidarité internationale sont plus jamais menacés, il est temps de donner un nouveau souffle démocratique aux institutions mondiales. L'organisation des Nations Unies doit ainsi s'ouvrir aux représentants élus directement par les citoyens afin de lui conférer la légitimité nécessaire pour agir au nom de l'intérêt général de l'humanité. Il s'agit en effet de conduire rapidement des réformes indispensables en matière de protection de l'environnement, de lutte contre la pauvreté ou de régulation des échanges à l'échelle internationale. Le meilleur moyen d'y parvenir est la création d'une assemblée parlementaire des Nations Unies. Elle serait complémentaire de l'assemblée générale qui réunit les gouvernements représentant les intérêts des Etats. En tant que progressiste, je soutiens cet objectif d'une mondialisation démocratique et non seulement économique, et j'apporte donc tout mon soutien à la campagne internationale pour la création d'une assemblée parlementaire des Nations Unies.United Nations Association of Sweden reaffirms support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly
Resolution adopted at Svenska FN-förbundet's congress in Örebro
Petter Ölmunger (photos: Jesper Prytz)
At its national congress from June 16-17, the United Nations Association of Sweden, UNA-Sweden, passed a resolution that reaffirms the organization’s support for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). The resolution commits the board to seek ways to "strengthen and broaden the support of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, nationally and globally", and to start a "long-term and strategic project" in order to promote a democratization of the United Nations.
As one of the new board members UNA Sweden's Congress elected Petter Ölmunger, the UNPA Campaign’s national coordinator and chairperson of Democracy Without Borders Sweden. The latter organization was established earlier this year with the purpose of promoting global democracy and a UNPA in particular.
“We can see how the gap is growing ever wider between our greatest political challenges and the actual power of elected politicians. If we want local and national democracy to survive in the age of globalization, a democratization of the United Nations and of global decision-making has become a most urgent necessity,” said Ölmunger.
UNA-Sweden is an umbrella organization supported by some 130 national civil society organizations. It enjoys the support of 7,000 individual members organized in over 100 local chapters. UNA’s national congress is meeting every third year and represents the highest decision-making body of the organization.
Around fifty member of parliament from Sweden are on record as supporters of the international appeal for a UNPA.
New book on a world parliament and world governance presented at the UN in New York
On April 11th, the United Nations Correspondents Association with support of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies hosted an event at the UN headquarters in New York marking the launch of the book "A World Parliament: Governance and Democracy in the 21st Century", authored by Andreas Bummel, the Director of Democracy without Borders and Jo Leinen, a Member of the European Parliament.
The book describes the history, today’s relevance and future implementation of the idea of a democratically elected world parliament and explores how world governance may be improved. In the introduction the authors write that “we know that a world parliament and a world legal order cannot be realized from one day to the next. But we argue that it is high time to set this process in train by establishing a UN Parliamentary Assembly.”
At the event, Andreas Bummel said that the confrontation between the United States and Russia in the UN Security Council over the carnage in Syria represents “the darkest hour in international relations in recent history.” In his opinion, forward-looking visions such as that of a world parliament are now all the more important. He outlined the proposal of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a means to better represent the world’s citizens in UN affairs. The assembly could be established as a consultative body composed of national or regional parliamentarians by a decision of the UN General Assembly as part of the latter’s “revitalization”.
Luke Vargas, UN Bureau Chief of Talk Media News, moderated a discussion with Bummel with a number of journalists and diplomats from member states’ missions to the UN, with William Pace, the Executive Director of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy and Convener of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, introducing.
Vargas pointed out the “rare, precious optimism” of the book in the context of the current political climate, which Pace also acknowledged, calling it a “period of severe retreat of the principles of multilateralism and of how policy elites are implementing globalism.” Both highlighted the exceptional way that a world parliament could address today’s issues. One of the most prominent supporters of the idea was Albert Einstein.
Bummel, who is also Director of the international Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, fielded a number of questions from the audience regarding the premise of the book as well as the concept of a UN Parliamentary Assembly. An essential distinction was made between international law and global law, which is explored in the last chapters of the work. Bummel argued that international law does not represent a legal system in the strict sense of the term as it does not provide for mechanisms for the adoption of universally binding rules, for mandatory settlement of disputes before courts or means of enforcement.
In a review posted on his blog, American professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University Richard Falk strongly recommended the book and called it “a great gift to humanity at a time of global emergency.”
Experts who had an opportunity to read an advance copy included Frank Biermann, chair of the Earth System Governance project and professor at Utrecht University. According to Biermann, the book represents “the new standard work on the idea of a world parliament” and “a milestone in the debate on the democratization of global governance.”
The book can be ordered in print and ebook edition on Amazon or any other retail and online bookstores around the world.
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