Formal sitting and address by BAN Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations during the EP plenary session in Brussels.

Brussels

EU - United Nations (T)

speech

formal sitting

BAN, Ki-moon

Address by BAN Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations: extracts from the Formal sitting

Interior, BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General,  arrives with EP President Martin Schulz in the plenary, (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "The growth of violent extremism is a grave threat to international peace and security. The unspeakable wave of brutality against civilians being perpetrated by extremist groups is a direct challenge to the Universal values of peace, justice, tolerance and Human dignity. The wanton destruction of cultural heritage is another front to common Humanity, I remain fully committed to walking with the European institutions to address this challenge."

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "Europe has an important role to play and the collective responsibility to act, saving lives should be the top priority and while we need to see more (applause) effective law enforcement actions against the traffickers and smugglers we also need safer alternatives to dangerous voyages as well as a legal channels, such as visa settlement, family re-unification and work and study visas."

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "The UN welcomes the proposals by the European Commission by a true migration policy; today's announcement by the European Commission of a proposal of the relocation of 40.000 asylum seekers is a step in the right direction. I encourage EU member states to show compassion as they consider this important proposal, to share their responsibilities. "

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "Europe is experiencing low population growth and demographic transition to an Asian demographic, the equation is clear, to work on this deficit and to maintain an economic dynamism, Europe needs migrants."

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "We must renew the global partnership for development at the international conference for financing of development in Addis Ababa. Developed countries have a responsibility to lead on providing the funds for eradicating extreme poverty and addressing climate change."

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, UN Secretary General, "Finance is critical in securing an ambitious agreement in Paris, there must be a political credible trajectory for mobilising the agreed 100 Billion dollars per year by 2020. And the Green Climate fund must be up and running before Paris so that we can afford help for small island developing states, least developed countries and Africa. I'm requesting from the EU a strong support in ensuring this."

SOUNDBITE (English), BAN KI-moon, "This year marks the 70 anniversary of the United Nations; our organisation was born from the ashes of the Second World War which laid much of Europe to waste. Your peace and prosperity is a concrete symbol what can be achieved even after greatest devastation. We live in a complex an troubled world but I believe we also live in a world of possibility and that you are among the guardians of that promise, you are a locomotive, with the most powerful engine and I urge you to pull the world from ahead and to push the world from behind with your strong power of engine."