United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the European Union to be at the forefront of the good battle for the values of the Enlightenment, upon his arrival at the European Commission, on Wednesday 23 June, to attend the College of Commissioners meeting.
Highlighting the increase in various forms of irrationality, nationalism, populism, racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, the Secretary General counted on the European Union “to be on the forefront of the good battle for the values of the Enlightenment, which were(...) the very important contribution of Europe to global civilization”.
While Mr Guterres thanked the EU, and in particular the European Commission, for being a very strong supporter of the UN in all dimensions of its work, the President of the European Commission assured him that the EU and the Commission always stand by his side.
“We support you in your tireless work to strengthen multilateralism and to improve the rules-based order, globally, for all the topics we are dealing with together - be it peace and security, or the support for refugees, or overcoming the pandemic, but also fighting climate change”, she told the Secretary General. Mrs von der Leyen also gave her support to Mr Guterres’ reform programme for the UN. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)