The Case for Global Democracy: Cross Party Coalition of MEPs calls for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

1.59.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Sep 2007

Graham Watson on the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly

In the week when the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, Graham Watson (UK, Lib Dem), leader of the European Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament is launching a pamphlet calling for greater accountability and transparency at the UN via a parliamentary body modelled on the experience of the European Union. The paper is co-authored by a cross-party group of MEPs - Pia-Noora Kauppi member of the EPP Group, Jo Leinen, member of the Socialist Group and Gérard Onestà, EP vice-President and member for the Green Group.

The booklet contains an introduction by former UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali who writes: "Without the democratisation of globalisation to counteract the progressive curtailment of national democracy, nation states will lose their independence and world citizens will find themselves dominated by a new imperialism".

The MEPs, from the European Parliament's four main political groups, are calling for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA).

"The Doha Development Round has stalled, polar ice-caps are melting, and a worldwide influenza outbreak is looming. Yet neither the UN, nor any other global organisation - from the WTO to the World Bank - has put suitable mechanisms in place to encourage effective global scrutiny and cooperation on such matters", the four MEPs said.

"Citizens have to feel they are represented by the people they have freely chosen, not faceless diplomats. A UN Parliamentary Assembly would be a decisive step towards democratising citizen representation at global level and linking the UN system more effectively to national parliaments and civil society.

"Indeed, in an era where the UN's mandate has grown exponentially the UNPA would act as a watch-dog on its activities, monitoring its decision-making deadlines, its accountability and transparency".

"The European Parliament has been a laboratory for effective multilateralism for almost 50 years. We can now export our successful experience to global level".

"That is why we are joining the campaign to create a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly"