The United Nations Security Council, according to the international law, has a monopoly over the use of force and the supreme responsibility for maintaining peace. In 2017-2018 Italy and the Netherlands, initially competing for membership, opted for a rare precedent of joint membership. With the Italian membership coming to an end and the Dutch membership approaching, what are the lessons Europe, and Latvia in particular, can draw from this joint initiative? What is the current role and what are the main tasks of the UNSC from the European point of view? How much influence do the non-permanent members wield? Does the EU really speak in one voice on the Council? What were the lobbying initiatives behind pushing for the joint membership, and the negotiation process behind setting joint priorities? Can Latvia and other Baltic states use this approach in the future? What are the results of the Italian and the expectations form the Dutch membership?
26 October 2017 | EU House | 14.00-15.30