France supports the reform of the Security Council initiated by the Summit of the Future [fr]

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

On behalf of my delegation, I wish first and foremost to thank you for holding this meeting and for the draft text, which we hope will enable the intergovernmental process on Security Council reform to make an ambitious and operational contribution to the Pact for the Future. As is desired by the majority of member states, we need Security Council reform. This must be one of the priorities of the next Summit of the Future. France’s support for this reform is clear, consistent and historic. Reform is possible, as we have already stated.

Security Council reform needs be based on a draft resolution that identifies our many points of convergence, without limiting ourselves to seeking consensus, which is unachievable but also not required under the Charter. We did it during the 1963 reform, we can do it again. It would be useful to recall the specific provision of the Charter in the co-facilitators’ document, and to indicate that we need to work on a resolution ("as parameters for a resolution on reform").

As we and you have indicated, the Security Council needs to be expended to reflect the realities of today’s world and enhance its legitimacy. This reform must be carried out while preserving the Council’s decision-making capacity, as the cornerstone of our collective architecture.

As we have often reiterated, we are in favor of an enlarged Security Council in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, with around 25 members to preserve its decision-making capacity ; a stronger African presence, including among permanent members, is a priority. France supports the aspirations of the G4 countries. This text must specify the enlargement to two member categories, a position shared by a large majority of member states.

We welcome the language on improving the Council’s working methods. The Council is exercising its powers in this area, adopting a number of new practices which underline the commitment of Council members, and France in particular, to greater transparency, openness and efficiency.

Lastly, France welcomes the reference in the draft text to limiting the use of the veto. Here again, a large majority of United Nations member states support limiting use of the veto in the case of mass atrocities. France has helmed this initiative with Mexico and this is something that I welcome as it has been identified as an area of convergence by the IGN. Today, this initiative is already supported by 106 States. We encourage all member states that have not yet done so, especially the permanent members, to support it. I wish to recall that this initiative is distinct from reform, since it does not require a modification of the Charter either.

Co-Chairs,

You can count on France’s full support. The Summit of the Future this year and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations in 2025 offer us a unique and historic opportunity to push this reform forward. It is our responsibility to achieve this.

Thank you.

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Co-Chairs,

Thank you for organizing this first debate on the draft text which will constitute the contribution of the intergovernmental process on Security Council reform to the Pact for the Future.

We are particularly appreciative of the way in which you have established trust between delegations by providing a concise text that is well adapted to the objectives of a high-level document.

We would like to make the following comments on draft action 2, which concerns efforts in the context of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform:

The decision of the co-chairs to webcast the part of the meetings with statements in order to enable greater inclusiveness and transparency should be welcomed.

Reform is possible, but it must be based on a single, negotiated text. Only a text will enable negotiations to make real progress. To this end, we can rely on the document revised and circulated at the end of the last session, which reflects the elements of convergence on which we must capitalize. Furthermore, the presentation of five different models at the last session of the intergovernmental process breathed new life into the discussions on Security Council reform. There is a need to continue this momentum and move forward. I reiterate my suggestion to include the symbolic date of 2025 in the text, and also to raise the prospect of a resolution to be submitted to the UNGA.

At a time when the international community is facing numerous conflicts, we need to consolidate our collective security system.

The reform of the Security Council is more essential than ever to strengthen its authority and representativeness, while preserving its executive and decision-making nature.

Thank you.

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Co-Chairs,

Action 3 concerns the strengthening of the United Nations’ response to the maintenance of international peace and security.

How could we tackle the reform of the Security Council without taking an in-depth look at the core of its mandate? The situation is critical: the number of countries in the throes of violent conflict has never been higher in the last 30 years. Reforming the Security Council must therefore ensure that it remains mobilized and effective in the long term.

Reform of the Council is also essential to meet the new global challenges that threaten the security of states and populations. Today, pandemics and environmental crises can destabilize and undermine international peace and security. These challenges call for collective and coordinated action, which must guide our decisions at all times.

As for the details of action 3, we would like to emphasize the following points:

Firstly, we support the logic of progressively improving the working methods of the Security Council and strengthening the General Assembly, while respecting their own competences as defined by the UN Charter. France voted for and supports unreservedly the General Assembly’s recent resolution on the veto, which demonstrates the UN system’s collective capacity to adapt, and belies the UN’s image of paralysis.

Secondly, on the question of the use of the veto, much has been done and here again we need to move forward: since 2015, France has been jointly leading with Mexico an initiative to regulate the veto right, which provides for a voluntary and collective suspension of the use of the veto in the event of mass atrocities. I welcome this initiative, already supported by 106 States, which is now among the elements of convergence identified within the IGN framework. We reiterate our invitation to all States, and in particular the permanent members of the Security Council, to join this initiative, which can be done by a simple note verbale.

Thirdly, dialogue and collaboration must remain at the core of the UN system. To this end, France supports the strengthening of cooperation between the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as its subsidiary organs, including the Peacebuilding Commission. We need to enhance the complementarity of these bodies so that our action to maintain international peace and security is more effective and consistent.

Co-Chairs,

France fully supports the reform undertaken within the framework of the Summit of the Future. The September 2024 deadline represents a unique opportunity, which the United Nations must seize to the full. Rest assured that we will give it our full support.

Thank you.