UN General Assembly, 18-20 September 2017

Background and further information:

The delegation was led by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk - who spoke at the General Debate on 20 September - together with the European Commission's Frans Timmerams and the High Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini.

The European Union also hosted several events in the margins of the General Assembly, including the launch of an Alliance for Torture-Free Trade and the launch of a global initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. A set of other events required the presence of a wide group of Commissioners.

The Council of the European Union adopted in July 2017 the EU priorities for the United Nations and the 72nd General Assembly:

+ strengthening and reforming the UN and the rules-based global order;
+ fostering peace and investing in conflict prevention;
+ enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation;
+ promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation;
+ addressing issues related to migrants and refugees, human rights, and development.

The 72nd United Nations General Assembly was held on 18-20 September 2017. A high-level delegation of the European Union attended the ministerial week.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/3223, 20.09.17: The EU and the UN team up to eliminate violence against women and girls http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3223_en.htm

EurActiv, 20.09.17: At UN, Macron casts himself as Trump’s antithesis http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/at-un-macron-casts-himself-as-trumps-antithesis/

EurActiv, 20.09.17: At UN, Erdogan demands Iraqi Kurds call off referendum, warns of ‘consequences’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/at-un-erdogan-demands-iraqi-kurds-call-off-referendum-warns-of-consequences/

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the High-Level event on the Global Pact for the Environment http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/09/19-tusk-speech-un-high-event-environment/

European Council: Address by President Donald Tusk at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/09/20-tusk-speech-un-general-assembly/

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/3226, 15.09.17: Reinvigorating Multilateralism: EU attends 72nd United Nations General Assembly Ministerial week http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3226_en.htm

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