Brussels, 23/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Council welcomed the presentation of the report, “In Greater Freedom”, by the UN Secretary General on reform of the multilateral system (EUROPE No. 8914). Heads of State and governments interpret Kofi Annan's report as crucially important in preparing the UN Summit in September. The European Council reaffirms that the Union is “firmly resolved to play a major role at the United Nations in general and in the preparation of the Summit in particular”. The conclusions indicated that the EU is determined that this process ends with common responses to the major problems of development, security and human rights. A paragraph on Africa was added to the conclusions. In it the European Council underlines the “specific importance of Africa in 2005”. It welcomed the Commission's intention to rapidly propose a substantial contribution to revision of the millennium objectives for development and strengthening the support of the Union to the content of Africa. In this context it also took note of the recent Commission report on Africa. President Chirac addressing the press, welcomed the initiatives by British Prime Minister Tony Blair that aim to revive the debate at the G8 and to establish an international financial facility. Chirac also underlined the need to double public aid for development.
In a press conference, the Luxembourg minister for foreign affairs, Jean Asselborn, president of the Council of the EU said that the EU25 was 100% behind Kofi Annan's proposals and that the EU would be speeding up the work to finalise the common positions that could be adopted at the June summit so that the Union is able to speak with one voice at the UN Summit in September.