EU priority area for UN cooperation

The European Union (EU) has identified West Africa as one of the regions where it would seek priority cooperation with the United Nations for the purpose of crisis management and conflict resolution, according to the conclusions of the union’s General Affairs Council released on Tuesday. “The Council acknowledges the need for an integrated approach to conflict prevention and crisis management, encompassing also development cooperation and other measures addressing root causes of conflict,” the EU said in a statement of resolutions. Identified themes and areas of cooperation include adopting mutually reinforcing approaches in conflict prevention, exchange of information on current and potential crises, cooperation in fact-finding and coordination of diplomacy. Others are cooperation in election monitoring and provision of electoral aid, and field coordination and training.