On the sidelines of his contacts in New York, The Left (The Left) Nicolas Farantouris talked to RES-EIA in his headquarters UN In New York for his meeting with UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres and for the EU’s potential role in the international organization, after the US departure from a series of UN services and organizations.

The Greek MEP and Professor of European Law represents the European Parliament in the framework of the high level UN forum for the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

On the sidelines of your contacts in New York you met with Gen. UN Secretary, representing the European Parliament as the author and rapporteur of the exhibition for the global goals of sustainable development. What, in your opinion, are the key priorities to ensure the implementation of Agenda 2030 goals?

“My meeting with UN Secretary -General, Mr. A. Guterres, took place in the framework of the UN High Level Political Forum for sustainable development at an extremely critical juncture for the Organization and the International Community. I represent the European Parliament as the author and rapporteur of the Sustainable Development Objective (SDGS), who was voted in voting with a wide majority of 672 votes for 622 votes in the last plenary in Strasbourg, which gave me great satisfaction and responsibility. Global goals are from the reduction of economic and regional inequalities to biodiversity and the basic rights of women and young girls to access to water, health, work, etc.

And I have the joy, these days, here in New York, to present the position of the European Parliament at the highest possible level of representation of the international community. The priority today is to restore citizens’ confidence in international institutions. This means: Supervision and accountability in funding, enhancing transparency and participation of vulnerable groups and promoting synergies between the Republics of the North and the South. We need fewer proclamation texts and more action to sustain society and the economy for planet, humanity and future generations. “

In the context of the growing US withdrawal from international organizations, do you think the EU can play a more leading role within the UN, both politically and institutionally?

“Clearly yes. The EU has to take a leading role within the UN to consolidate the logic of international law and to defend the international legal order challenged by reviewing forces. The US folding leaves a gap that has the opportunity to fill the European Union. The EU and the 27 Member States together are now the largest UN financiers. As a community of law, Europe has institutional legitimacy and historical responsibility to play a leading role. Not only as a financier, but also as a guardian of the international legal order. This presupposes consistency, strategic depth and institutional readiness, which it has to cultivate more. “

How do you evaluate the contribution of the European Union as a major UN funder to promote the principles of international law and multilateral cooperation and diplomacy?

“As I emphasized in my statements after meeting with Secretary General Gunderers, the EU must and is entitled to claim faithful observance of international law. And as the main funder of the UN, he must and is entitled to require the Agency’s robust intervention when international law is violated. Respect for international law must not only be a position of principle, but a prerequisite for continuing any multilateral cooperation. The fact that the EU is now the main funder of the UN also creates a responsibility for influence. We cannot remain observers. We must require the UN with institutional confidence, the rigorous application of international law and the activation of surveillance mechanisms when it is violated. “

You mentioned in your statements “the action of Turkey that violates international law”. What was the attitude of Yen? UN Secretary on issues of Greek interest?

“The Secretary -General is aware of the issues, but it is important to feel – both himself and the international community – that they are not bilateral issues of” Greek interest “but of European and worldwide interest issues of infringement of international law. Turkey violates international law in a series of issues: Casus belli in Greece, illegal military occupation in Cyprus, Turkish-Liviko Memorandum, and latest, an attempt to electricity with the pseudo-state. These violate international law and against the EU that supports the UN financially and institutionally. This is how the issues must be raised. This is the realistic imprint of international relations for the realistic and ultimately effective application of international law. Because invocation of international rules alone is not enough for their implementation. ”

Given the criticality of juncture and volatility in many parts of the world, what is the role of the UN in the strict implementation of international law when it is violated, such as in the case of the illegal occupation of Cyprus and the Turkish-Libyan memorandum?

“As I mentioned earlier, in itself, the invocation of international law is not sufficient, because we have passed into its rational power (and in many cases at the expense of diplomacy). Therefore, we need application mechanisms and alternative strategic. Neither the UN nor the EU can tolerate violations of international legitimacy, such as the Turkish threat of war. The Turkish-Libyan Memorandum and the continued occupation of Cyprus are classic cases of violation. Here, too, the role of the EU as a major UN funder can be decisive. When the European Union and its Member States are today the largest UN financiers, we must be listed. We need a UN (and one EU within it) less spectator and more guardian. This is, after all, the spirit of the report I have presented on the part of the European Parliament, and with this logic I intend to move with the institutional properties, not only the rapporteur of global sustainable development goals, but also as a member of the European Parliament, Security and Defense Committees. And of course as a member of the EU-US Inter-Parliamentary Delegation. ”