EU and EU Member States contributions to the UN

The EU has constantly affirmed its support for multilateralism, and in particular for the UN. The geopolitical orientation declared the by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – which underpins the EU’s role in the world as a promoter of freedom, democracy and the rules-based order – has added a further dimension to the EU’s involvement with the UN. In terms of legal bases within the EU Treaties, Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) puts respect for the principles of the UN Charter among the principles guiding EU action on the international scene, namely to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security. The EU gives preference to the UN framework to promote multilateral solutions to common problems. According to Article 220 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the EU should establish ‘all appropriate forms of cooperation with the organs of the United Nations and its specialised agencies’.