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It may seem as though there is a contradiction between the German national ambition to become a permanent member of the United Nations’ Security Council and the European Union’s approach of closer coordination between the two organizations. This is, however, not the case if one accepts that a Union of 25 (and more) members needs a flexible approach towards organizing its relations with the UN. Using this as a basis, there is good reason to believe that the German goal to join France and the United Kingdom as a permanent member of the Security Council is compatible with the aim of creating a European core, the EU’s readiness to support UN operations, the national endeavors to contribute more to the UN’s stand-by system, and the special command arrangement SHIRBRIG. These factors, as well as the different forms of coordinated financial support, are likely to improve the efficiency and sustainability of UN operations.

Peter Schmidt is a Researcher at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Foundation of Science and Politics, SWP, Berlin) and a Professor at the University of Mannheim. He specializes in transatlantic relations, questions of European security, and relations between the European Union and the United Nations.