The European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) have reaffirmed their commitment to the universal principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, in a joint declaration published on Friday 24 October, 80 years to the day after the final ratification of the UN text.
Recalling their shared commitment to multilateralism under the Samoa Agreement that unites them (see EUROPE 13293/19), the two parties underscored “the invaluable role of the United Nations in bringing the international community together around universal values, such as good governance, protection of human rights, democratic principles, and respect for the Rule of law, as well as the championing of human and social progress in the world”.
In particular, the partners reaffirmed their determination to work together on sustainable development by 2030, the Pact for the Future, the Paris Agreement, and respect for the principle of the sovereign equality of all States.
“We support a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Sahel and in other major wars and conflicts around the globe.”, they said, expressing concern about “widespread” violations of the UN Charter.
The partners committed to implementing the main international programmes of action for the most vulnerable countries - Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
They reaffirmed their willingness to strengthen cooperation between their 104 countries, representing some two billion people on four continents.
To see the joint declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/j4h
Ratification of the Samoa Agreement. On Thursday, the European Parliament had called on the 88 signatory countries to ratify the Samoa Agreement in order to confirm its implementation (see EUROPE 13737/27). Accelerating the ratification is also one of the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 13673/6) (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)