ABSTRACT
The European Union's (EU's) commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations (UN)—the only truly universal multilateral organisation—at its core, is at the very heart of the external policy. This commitment is rooted in the conviction that the international community needs a strong and efficient multilateral system, founded on universal rules and values, to respond to crises, challenges and threats on the global level. The need to build an international order based on effective multilateralism is underlined as one of the strategic objectives of the European Security Strategy, which also states that the fundamental framework for international relations is the UN Charter. Interaction and cooperation between the EU and the UN has increased steadily over the years. The EU's commitment to multilateral action will continue to guide our action in promoting security and peace in the coming years. Conflict prevention and crisis management lie at the intersection of development and security.
