Meinl-Reisinger: UN Reform urgently needed for global peace!

Meinl-Reisinger: UN Reform urgently needed for global peace!

Wien, Österreich - On March 26, 2025, the Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger commented in an interview with the "Press" to the Urgently needed reform of the United Nations (UN). She vehemently speaks against the replacement or destruction of the UN and emphasizes that there is no alternative to this international institution. Instead, she advocates a comprehensive reform, in particular the UN Security Council, which in her opinion depicts the "world order of 70 years ago", and no longer corresponds to the geopolitical conditions of the 21st century.

The importance of the UN in the area of peacekeeping is clearly emphasized, because around 100,000 Austrians have participated in missions. Meinl-Reisinger demands a greater say for African and South American states to meet the challenges of a multipolar world order. It is aware that the Security Council decides on international law and can authorize conditions for military measures. The relationship with the United States is considered to be newly orders, especially taking into account the current government under Donald Trump, which she says of that many of her statements are not considered helpful.

Reform requirement of the Security Council

Meinl-Reisinger explains that Europe has to pay more attention to its own interests, while at the same time it emphasizes that each Member State should have the opportunity to make a hearing in order not to be ignored. However, international discussions about the reform of the UN Security Council are not new. Since the end of the East-West conflict in 1989/90, the call for reforms has been louder and louder in order to adapt the UN to the changed global realities. Essential topics are globalization as well as a changed international security situation and environmental problem.

A central concern is to adapt the composition of the Security Council. The "Group of Four" (G4), consisting of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan, calls for a reform that provides for new constant members. This is also intended to strengthen Africa and reform the security council's work methods. According to the Foreign Office The reform proposal includes the expansion by six permanent members and four to five non-employed members. However, such a reform requires a change in the UN charta, which presupposes both a two-thirds majority in the general assembly and the consent of all five permanent members.

The role of Austria and EU foreign policy

Meinl-Reisinger also defends Austria's candidacy for a two-year membership in the Security Council in order to secure the integrity of the country at the international level. At the same time, she expresses concern about the detention of the Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and regrets the lack of unity within the EU, which makes it difficult to comment on the situation in Turkey. A demolition of relationships with Türkiye considers them senseless, while she emphasizes the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries, not only in terms of Ukraine.

In the broader discussion about the reform of the UN, it is clear that a political will of the Member States is crucial for the implementation of new measures. The modernization of the administrative structures and specific changes in relevant areas of activity could include upcoming reforms in order to ensure the UN an advanced role in the 21st century.

As the previous challenges show, the reform of the Security Council remains a central element of the modernization of the UN, which is supported by many Member States, including Germany.