As a member of the UN Security Council, Germany intends to do its bit for a strong European voice and to help ensure that EU states demonstrate unity. The German government is working for an international order based on binding rules and regulations. The underlying conviction is that global security policy can only be successful if it takes a multilateral approach.

In April 2019 France handed over the one-month presidency of the Security Council to Germany. The two countries coordinated their "twin" presidencies (known by the French term "jumelage") closely. This was the first time this had been seen in the United Nations Security Council since it was founded in 1946.

Women, peace and security

To foster peace, security and stability, the German government made "women, peace and security" a focus of the German presidency of the Security Council in April 2019. Germany thus picked up on an issue that is also one of the priorities of the strategic partnership with the EU and the United Nations for peace missions and crisis resolution over the 2019/2020 period.

Alongside the more intensive involvement of women in peace processes, they are to be better protected during armed conflicts, in particular from the threat of sexual violence. The German government is thus working to enhance political participation on the part of women and to ensure they are better protected against sexual violence in conflict-affected areas.

A wide range of cooperation arrangements for peace and sustainability

The European Union and the United Nations work together in many areas and many parts of the world. In March 2019, for instance, the EU and the UN together hosted the third Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region.

Both organisations are members of the Libya Quartet (along with the African Union and the Arab League), which is coordinating measures to restore peace in Libya. While in Venezuela the focus is on providing joint humanitarian aid, in Mali the EU is delivering training and capacity development measures to support the UN peace mission.

Last, but not least, the EU is working hard to fully achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Summit, at head of state and government level, on 24 and 25 September in New York will also be focusing on this.

The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members with veto rights: China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and the USA. In addition, ten non-permanent members are elected, each for a period of two years. In 2019 and 2020, alongside Germany, the non-permanent members are the EU member states Belgium and Poland, as well as Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru and South Africa.

EU member states work together

The EU member states consult and coordinate closely on all UN issues. Regular meeting of EU member states, known as "Article 34 meetings" are held specifically with respect to the work of the Security Council. This is a reference to Article 34 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which provides for EU member states to coordinate their action within international organisations. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (currently Federica Mogherini, soon to be succeeded by Josep Borrell) is responsible for presenting the common standpoint of the EU on Security Council issues.