Centre right MEPs have added their voices to those demanding urgent reform of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
They want limits on the use of veto powers, a stronger role of the UN General Assembly when the Security Council is “paralysed” and a “reassessment” of Russia’s permanent seat on the Security Council.
The call comes from members of the European People’s Party, EPP, the biggest political grouping in the European Parliament.
It also comes amid ongoing uncertainty about the long term future of the UN, not least with President Donald Trump’s reported reservations about the organisation.
The U.S policy toward the United Nations is, for many, driven by an “America First” philosophy, prioritizing U.S. national sovereignty and demanding structural reforms.
While the president’s administration has maintained support for core humanitarian operations, it has reportedly heavily scrutinized, cut funding for, or completely withdrawn from dozens of international and UN-affiliated agencies.
The U.S. withdrew from numerous international and UN-affiliated bodies, including the Paris climate change framework, UN Women, the UN Population Fund, and the UN Democracy Fund.
Andrey Kovatchev is the MEP who has drafted the EU Parliament’s recommendation for the next UN General Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Bulgarian deputy said, “The UN Security Council must be reformed to better reflect today’s global reality.
“Veto must not be allowed to prevent UN action against war crimes and crimes against humanity. When the Security Council is unable to act, the UN General Assembly can help bridge the gap. We must make the United Nations more effective, efficient and better adapted to a changing world,” said Kovatchev.
“Russia has lost its moral legitimacy as a permanent member of the Security Council by flagrantly breaching key principles of the UN Charter, in particular by waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, and by blocking, by means of its veto, decisions concerning its own illegal actions,” reads the report, which is expected to be adopted by the European Parliament at its monthly plenary session in Strasbourg, France this week.
Kovatchev adds, “Russia’s place as a permanent member of the UN Security Council must be questioned morally, politically and legally.
“Russia is not only waging an illegal war, committing atrocities and openly violating the UN Charter.
“There is also a legal problem: article 23 of the UN Charter names the Soviet Union, not Russia, as a permanent member. Russia simply took over the seat without a formal decision, with a unilateral declaration.
“This is based on tacit acceptance and political practice rather than on a clear legal decision,” insists Kovatchev.
Further comment on the issue comes from another EPP deputy, Sandra Kalniete, the Group spokeswoman on Russia.
The Latvian member, also vice chair of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, said, “Russia’s claim to the Soviet Union’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council was accepted in the chaos and euphoria that followed the collapse of the USSR.
“But this was never settled by a clear legal decision. Formally, Ukraine and Belarus had equal grounds to claim succession, as they signed the Belavezha Accords in December 1991 alongside Russia, while the other former Soviet republics also inherited rights and obligations from the USSR,” underlined Kalniete.
“Russia is now the greatest threat to international peace and security. It violently assaults the most basic principles of international law and undermines the UN system from within.
“It sabotages all peace efforts, fuels global insecurity and contributes to the energy crisis by supporting Iran’s attacks in the Gulf.
“Russia’s seat in the Security Council must be questioned whenever Moscow uses its veto to paralyse UN action,” Kalniete adds.
