Abstract
This paper aims to account for the EU’s role in multilateral negotiations at the UNGA by looking at the negotiations on the enhanced observer status. During the negotiation process, the EU experienced significant opposition and had to accept an intermediate setback in form of a postponement of the vote. Despite this, the EU’s enhanced observer status was adopted by the UNGA in May 2011 as resolution 65/276. This research contributes to the understanding of the EU as an actor in multilateral negotiations and the interaction between state and non-state actors. I argue that the EU is in the process of establishing itself as an active and recognized actor at the UN and determining its role as a highly integrated regional organization and non-state entity in the state-centric environment of the UNGA. I analyse the negotiation process and the final agreement through the lenses of a bargaining approach and as an alternative, mutual recognition as global justice.
Highlights
Over the years, the EU has become a frequent participant in multilateral negotiations and has collectively represented the goals of the Union and its Member States (MS)
The analysis showed that the achievement of just and fair multilateral negotiations is complex and hard to fully accomplish
This article finds that the EU can be a successful negotiator and can advance its role in multilateral negotiations at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
Summary
The EU has become a frequent participant in multilateral negotiations and has collectively represented the goals of the Union and its Member States (MS). The. As a case of structural reform at the UNGA, the EU’s request for enhanced participation rights is a relevant and interesting case of the EU’s foreign policy and role in multilateral negotiations. As a case of structural reform at the UNGA, the EU’s request for enhanced participation rights is a relevant and interesting case of the EU’s foreign policy and role in multilateral negotiations It illustrates the EU’s capacity to negotiate for its own sake, navigate the complexities of multilateral negotiations and interact in the state-centric system of the UN. The EU aimed towards an enhanced observer status, which consists of an institutional representative but holds the same rights as a major group at the UNGA. While the envisioned status did not have any limiting effect on the rights of the UN MS, it touched upon the sensitive issues of the UNGA’s structure and created some uncertainty concerning the EU’s future position in the UNGA
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