European External Action Service on Multilateralism Day, says cooperation is the only path and a common responsibility

On the International Day for Multilateralism, EEAS called for a further strengthening of engagement with partners.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the many weaknesses of our world, but also revealed our greatest strength: cooperation. We mark today, April 24, the International Day for Multilateralism while collectively experiencing challenging times. True to its founding principles, the European Union is determined to further strengthen its engagement with multilateral partners. The coronavirus has taught us that without collective action, without solidarity, empathy and joint work, it would be impossible to tackle any global challenge.

“As we tackle the biggest global health crisis of our generation, the European Union reaffirms its longstanding commitment to international cooperation and to the rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core. The coronavirus pandemic reminds us how interconnected we are and how crucial multilateral cooperation is”, said the High Representative Josep Borrell on the occasion of the International Day for Multilateralism. 

Multilateralism means working together, it means uniting rather than dividing, it means finding common solutions for the well- being of people and of the planet. Multilateralism means working together to protect and promote peace, universal rights and freedoms, sustainable development, health, security and stability, and our environment. Working together to save lives is the real human face of multilateralism.

In our interconnected and challenging world, we rely on the rules-based international order, commonly agreed rules and effective and inclusive global institutions, within and beyond the United Nations (UN) system, to ensure peace, security, human rights, prosperity and sustainable development for all.

“Multilateralism is the only effective way to face a threat with which no country can cope on its own and which affects us all. Nobody will be safe in any country as long as the pandemic rages in different parts of the world. Today is an opportunity to express our appreciation for the work of the United Nations in responding to the crisis”, commented the HRVP Borrell who has been in contact with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and with the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus. “The World Health Organisation plays a critical role in containing the spread of the virus. The European Union will continue to support this work, including financially. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are the largest donor to the WHO. In 2019, the EU institutions alone provided 146 million euros in funding and we have already committed 114 million euros to the UN Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan led by the WHO for countries with weak health systems”, he said.