General Assembly of the United Nations

This week (22-26 September) Commission President Barroso and commissioners will travel to New York for the plenary week of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and to attend the UN Secretary General's Climate Leaders' Summit on 23 September - the first occasion of world leaders meeting on climate since Copenhagen in 2009. The summit is bringing together an expected 120 world leaders with business CEOs and leaders of civil society and it shall give added momentum for reaching a new global climate agreement in Paris next year.

Following the invitation of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon President Barroso will also address the high-level meeting in response to the Ebola virus outbreak on 25 September.

Background

The UN Secretary General's Climate Leaders' Summit on 23 September will be the first occasion of world leaders to meet on climate since Copenhagen in 2009.  Whilst the Summit is not part of the formal process under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it should, by bringing together an expected 120 world leaders with CEOs of business and leaders of civil society, give added momentum in the 'race to the top' for ambition ahead of the Paris Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC in December 2015, where a new agreement on climate change should be adopted. US President Obama is expected to attend the Summit.

The General Debate of the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA 69) opens on 24 September. This year the UN General Assembly week will be marked by the Leaders' Summit on Climate Change, the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development and the World Conference on Indigenous People. The situation in the Middle East and Ukraine will also feature high on the agenda. The Ebola crisis will draw attention as the situation deteriorates on the ground in West Africa. Delivering on the Millennium Development Goals, the follow up to Rio+20 and the post-2015 discussions will be a key UN priority this year.

On the margins of the UNGA, President Barroso will have several bilaterals. He will meet the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. He will also meet the new President of the UN General Assembly, Sam Kutesa of Uganda, as well as the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Malian President Keita.

Four EU Commissioners will be present during UNGA Ministerial Week. Commissioners Connie Hedegaard and Andris Piebalgs will largely focus on the Climate Summit and sustainable energy and development events. Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva will notably focus on the humanitarian situations in Syria and CAR, while Commissioner Štefan Füle will participate in the regular Western Balkans foreign ministers meeting.

During the UNGA Ministerial week the main attention of the High Representative/Vice President Ashton will focus on making progress in the talks with Iran on its nuclear programme, which she leads. Intensive talks have been planned for the period between at least 16 and 26 September. High Representative/Vice President Ashton will also host the EU28 foreign ministers' meeting; attend the EU–US reception and the Transatlantic dinner, and participate in a series of other high-level meetings.

Official website of the General Assembly of the United Nations
President Barroso's official website
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