Multilateralism has been in trouble for a while, particularly at the global level. Yet, the European Union (EU) and its member states have remained among its staunchest supporters. The recent EU Communication on Multilateralism, published in February 2021, seeks to lay out a European vision to uphold, extend and reform the multilateral system.
This event would examine how the EU’s international partnerships can be leveraged to strengthen the multilateral system at a time of growing multipolarity. In particular, we would seek to look beyond the US and China to explore how the EU can build more meaningful cooperation with a variety of countries and regional groupings from across the Global South. The event will build and expand on ETTG’s recent paper, A new multilateralism for the post-COVID world: What role for the EU-Africa partnership? delving into the convergences and divergences between the EU and partners.
Is there real room for the EU to build multilateral partnerships with the African Union, ASEAN, India and others? To what extent is the EU a credible partner for countries in the Global South? Is the EU willing to fully support better representation of low- and middle-income countries at multilateral fora such as the UN Security Council, the International Financial Institutions, G20, etc. ? How has the response to COVID-19 impacted the potential for EU multilateral cooperation with countries in the Global South?
Timing: June 21 @ 11:00 am – 12.30 pm
Moderator: Vince Chadwick – Devex
- Chloe Teevan – Policy Officer for ECDPM (lead author of the ETTG paper)
- Ottilia Anna Maunganidze – Head of Special Projects – Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa)
- Daniel Giorev – Head of Unit Sustainable Development Policy and Global Partnerships with UN and IFIs (INTPA.D.2)
- Sachin Chaturvedi – Director General at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS, India)
Key messages: Geert Laporte, ETTG Director
Some questions which we tried to address with this event:
- EU multilateral cooperation with Global South
- Is there real room for the EU to build multilateral partnerships with the African Union, ASEAN, India and others?
- To what extent is the EU a credible partner for countries in the Global South?
- Focus on better representation & reforming institutions
- Is the EU willing to fully support better representation of low- and middle-income countries at multilateral fora such as the UN Security Council, the International Financial Institutions, G20, etc. ?
- What has the G20 Italian presidency put forward so far to increase African agency in decision making?
- What does the EU expect from partners in exchange for supporting better representation?
- What are the main areas where the EU can work with countries in the Global South to rekindle multilateralism (eg. UNDS, WTO, WHO)?
- Impact of COVID-19 response on relations
- How has the response to COVID-19 impacted the potential for EU multilateral cooperation with countries in the Global South?
- What are the key elements of an effective global post-COVID-19 response (health &/or economy)?
- To what extent is a vaccine patent waiver an important element of this response? Is there potential to build consensus at the WTO level to achieve this goal?
Language of the event: English
