The European Union and the United Nations have signed a Joint Declaration aimed at improving co-operation between the two organisations.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, speaking at United Nations headquarters in New York today, said it was an important public recognition of the practical cooperation between the UN and the EU in the area of crisis management.
He said that following up the declaration will be a priority for Ireland's six-month Presidency of the EU, which takes effect on January 1st.
The Joint Declaration, which was signed by Italy's President Berlusconi on behalf of the EU and by UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, restates that primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security rests with the UN Security Council.
It also recalls recent examples of cooperation between the two organisations, including the EU police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a military stabilisation force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both set up at the request of the UN.
"With the development of the Union's capabilities in this area in recent years, we have seen this cooperation given practical expression, bringing tangible benefits on the ground," Mr Cowen said.