“Malta believes that multilateralism is crucial. We
believe that the cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union
is integral and needs to be further strengthened.” The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and
Trade Ian Borg stated this while addressing a United Nations Security
Council meeting on the cooperation of the United Nations and regional and
sub-regional organisations (UN-EU).
During his speech, Minister Ian Borg said that the principles
of the United Nations and the values of the European Union are complementary
and hence should continue to be strengthened. He recalled how the beginning of
the European Union, after the Second World War, shows a clear example of how
multilateralism and regional integration brought peace, stability, prosperity, and growth.
Ian Borg spoke on how the relationship between the EU and the United
Nations should continue to be strengthened, particularly in the areas of human
rights, the rule of law and the processes of dispute settlements. He further
said that during these present times, more than ever, it is the EU and the
United Nations’ responsibility to make sure that where possible, regional, and international organisations come together to
provide more convergence and collaboration. There is even a need for both the
EU and even the United Nations to have more trilateral discussions and
collaboration, primarily with the African Union to address security challenges.
Minister Borg, as
President of the United Nations Security Council, concluded his intervention by
outlining how Malta is committed to strengthen peace, dialogue and
multilateralism to possibly avoid and further solve conflicts.
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