The EU Resolution To Gain Entry To United Nations

Cross-posted from The Albion Alliance Presents, and their 'rolling news service on matters EU, written by Ian Parker-Joseph:

"After much searching I have found the wording of draft resolution A/64/L.67 (Full PDF N1050071).

I understand the debate was so controversial that it delayed the closing of the Assembly’s 64th session, and was finally voted upon to defer. The vote to defer was tight, with 76 countries in favour, 71 against and 26 abstaining.

I also understand that during the debate, the United Kingdom spoke in favour of the draft resolution, which effectively would have taken yet another slice of the UKs independence in Foreign Affairs and on the world stage on the road to the EU superstate. (Speak up Mr Cameron, the people are awaiting your explanation)

The ambassadors of Belgium and the UK pointed out that the EU had been in consultations with its partners at the UN for ten months. (so there is no way that Cameron can say he knew nothing of this).

Here is the entry in the Official Journal of the UN – page 14 (highlights mine) lateste

Strengthening of the United Nations system: draft resolution (A/64/L.67)…..[120]
The General Assembly resumed its consideration of agenda item 120.
The representative of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union) made a statement, in the course of which he introduced and orally revised draft resolution A/64/L.67.

The representative of the Secretariat made a statement on programme budget implications of draft resolution A/64/L.67.

Statements in explanation of vote before the vote were made by the representatives of Lesotho (on behalf of the African Group), Suriname (on behalf of the Caribbean Community), Nauru (also on behalf of Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau and Solomon Islands), the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The representative of Suriname (on behalf of the Caribbean Community) made a statement on a point of order, in the course of which he moved, under rule 74 of the rules of procedure, that the debate on draft resolution A/64/L.67, as orally revised, be adjourned.

The representatives of Nauru (also on behalf of Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau and Solomon Islands), the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union) and the United Kingdom made statements, in accordance with rule 74 of the rules of procedure.

The motion for adjournment of debate was adopted by a vote of 76 in favour to 71 against, with 26 abstentions (recorded vote).

The General Assembly decided to include agenda item 120 in the draft agenda of the sixty-fifth session and thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 120

Below is the wording of the Draft Resolution put forward by the EU via Belgium on behalf of the EU. Note from above entry in the UN Journal that the draft resolution was orally amended during the debate, therefore I am unsure whether the written draft resolution below is the final text.

Sixty-fourth session
Agenda item 120
Strengthening of the United Nations system
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Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
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draft resolution
Participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations
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The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the role and authority of the General Assembly as a principal organ of the United Nations and the importance of its effectiveness and efficiency in fulfilling its functions under the Charter,
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Recognizing, further, that the current interdependent international environment requires the strengthening of the multilateral system in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and the principles of international law,
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Acknowledging that, when an organization for regional integration develops common external policies and establishes permanent structures for their conduct and representation, the General Assembly may benefit from the effective participation in its deliberations of that organization’s external representatives speaking on behalf of the organization and its member States,
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Recalling the long-standing relations between the European Union and the United Nations,
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Noting the entry into force on 1 December 2009 of the Treaty of Lisbon, by means of which the European Union has made changes to its institutional system, in particular with regard to its external representation,
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Noting that, in the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union reaffirms inter alia its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the promotion of multilateral solutions to common problems, in particular in the framework of the United Nations,
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Noting also that, under the Treaty of Lisbon, the States members of the European Union have entrusted the external representation of the European Union, with regard to the exercise of the competences of the European Union provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon, to the following institutional representatives: the President of the European Council, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and European Union delegations,
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Noting further that the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is assisted by a European External Action Service, which includes European Union delegations,
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Noting that the representatives of the European Union referred to above have assumed the role, previously performed by the representatives of the member State holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, of acting on behalf of the European Union at the United Nations in the exercise of the competences conferred by its member States,
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Recalling that, by virtue of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union has replaced the European Community, as notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by a letter dated 30 November 2009,
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Noting that the European Union is a party to many instruments concluded under the auspices of the United Nations and an observer or participant in several specialized agencies and United Nations bodies,
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Noting that the European Union retains observer status in the General Assembly,
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1. Decides that the representatives of the European Union, for the purposes of participating effectively in the sessions and work of the General Assembly, including in the general debate, and its committees and working groups, in international meetings and conferences convened under the auspices of the Assembly, as well as in United Nations conferences, and in order to present positions of the European Union, shall be invited to speak in a timely manner, similar to the established practice for representatives of major groups, shall be permitted to circulate documents, to make proposals and submit amendments, to raise points of order, but not to challenge decisions of the presiding officer, and to exercise the right of reply, and be afforded seating arrangements which are adequate for the exercise of the aforementioned actions; the European Union shall not have the right to vote or to put forward candidates in the General Assembly;
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2. Requests the Secretary-General to take any measures necessary to ensure the implementation of the present decision.

I am now looking for the voting, to see which countries voted for what. Lets see how the UK voted.

The election promises of Cameron & Clegg are now proving their true worth – nothing."

Ian and I were discussing this late last night and it will indeed be interesting to see who voted for and against. It is worth noting that as the UK put their name to the draft resolution they must indeed be in favour of the diminuation of their voice at the United Nations. If the EU do gain their coveted prize it will just confirm the existence of William Hague as totally unnecessary.