The European Union as an observer at the United Nations General Assembly

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to characterise the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution No. 65 276 on the ‘Participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations.’ This resolution was adopted as a result of efforts undertaken by the EU following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon which radically changed the principles and conditions of the EU’s participation in other international organisations. Pursuant to the provisions of Resolution 65 276, the EU was granted a new set of new rights at the UNGA as well as in some of its subsidiary bodies, international conferences and meetings held under its auspices. Despite these changes, the status of the EU at the UNGA is not similar to the status of observer states, and Resolution 65 276 points out that the same rights may also be accorded to other regional international organisations. Consequently, the UNGA does not account for the uniqueness of the integration process in the EU member states, treating the EU like any other international organisation.