EU ON U.S. PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002470

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015
TAGS: PREL KUNR PGOV AORC UNSC EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU ON U.S. PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM

REF: STATE 111637

Classified By: USEU POLOFF TODD HUIZINGA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 24, we delivered ref (A) demarche to
Paulo Oliveira, Principal UN Desk Officer at the EU Council
Secretariat. Oliveira's preliminary impression was that the

SIPDIS
U.S. points illustrated continued broad U.S.-EU agreement on
the importance and main priorities of UN reform. Oliveira
highlighted differences and unresolved questions on
development, the Human Rights Council, the Peacebuilding
Commission and the International Criminal Court. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
DEVELOPMENT: EU STICKS TO ODA TARGET
--------------


2. (C) On development, Oliveira agreed that the key was good
governance and economic reform in aid-recipient countries.
He stressed, however, that the EU remained committed to
achieving an Official Development Assistance (ODA) level of
0.7 percent of GDP.

--------------
HRC: HOW TO GET THE RIGHT MEMBERS?
--------------


3. (C) Oliveira asked whether the U.S. had begun to formulate
more specific criteria for membership on the proposed Human
Rights Council. He said the EU had discussed this
internally, and was stumped on how to come up with criteria
that would both reliably exclude the worst human rights
violators and allow for balanced regional representation.

--------------
ECOSOC ROLE IN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
--------------


4. (C) On the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission (PBC),
Oliveira said that, in order to get G-77 buy-in, ECOSOC would
have to have a stronger role than that desired by the U.S.
He added that the EU believed ECOSOC had an important role to
play in dealing with the economic and social aspects of
crises. Oliveira suggested something close to a 50-50 split
between UNSC and ECOSOC membership (5 members each) on the
PBC might end up being a workable compromise.

--------------
U.S. ICC POINT RAISES HACKLES
--------------


5. (C) Oliveira characterized the U.S. point on the
International Criminal Court (ICC) as too stark and
hard-line, and urged the U.S. to further discuss with the EU
its position on the ICC.


6. (C) On streamlining the UNGA agenda and on budget,
management and administrative reform, Oliveira did not offer
specifics but said U.S. and EU thinking largely overlapped.
Oliveira took points on U.S. priorities for development,
support for democracy initiatives, and adoption of a
Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism on board without
comment.

MCKINLEY



.