WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/97 by Edith Müller (V) to the Commission (9 June 1997)

Subject: Cooperation between EU and UN

The European Union, and its Member States, spend a lot of money every year to cooperate with the UN. It is in the citizens' interest to know what we get for this money.

1. With which UN body does which DG at the Commission cooperate?

2. What is the contribution from the EU budget to each UN body?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (22 July 1997)

1. DG IA, DG IB: responsible for general coordination with all United Nations (UN) bodies and operational contacts, in particular with regard to their geographical directorates.

DG II: UN conference on trade and development (UNCTAD), Food and agriculture organisation (FAO), UN conference on environment and development (UNCED).

DG III: World health organization (WHO), International atomic energy agency (IAEA), UN industrial development organization (UNIDO), UNCTAD, UNCED, Economic commission for Europe (ECE).

DG V: general coordination with all UN bodies on relevant aspects (International labour organisation (ILO), WHO, FAO).

DG VI: FAO, World food programme (WFP), WHO, ECE, UNCED, International union for the protection of new varieties of plants.

DG VII: International maritime organization (IMO), International civil aviation organization, ILO, ECE, UNCTAD.

DG VIII: FAO, International fund for agricultural development, UNCTAD, UN international drug control programme (PNUCID), UN environment programme(UNEP), UN educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO), UN fund for population activities, Office of the UN High commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), UN children's fund (UNICEF), UNIDO, UN relief and works agencies for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

DG X: UNESCO, UNHCR.

DG XI: UN bodies dealing with environment aspects (WTO, UN commission on sustainable development, UNEP, ECE).

DG XII: IAEA, WHO, FAO, UNESCO, ECE, UNCED.

DG XIII: International telecommunication union, Universal post union, WHO, World tourism organization, UNESCO.

DG XIV: FAO, WHO.

DG XV: World intellectual property organisation, UN commission on international trade law, UNCTAD.

DG XVII: IAEA, Intergovernmental panel on climate change.

DG XIX: all UN bodies on financial aspects.

DG XXI: IMO, WHO, UNCTAD, PNUCID, UNCED.

DG XXII: UNESCO, ILO.

DG XXIII: UNIDO.

ECHO: UNHCR, UNICEF, UN development programme, UNRWA, UN department of humanitarian affairs, Office of the UN disaster relief co-ordinator, Pan American health organisation, WFP, FAO, WHO.

2. There is no regular contribution from the Community to UN bodies. Nevertheless the Community co-finances UN administered projets. On the other hand, in 1997 the Member States of the Community contribute 35,41% to the regular budget of the UN and with 37,93% to its peace keeping budget.