EU Statement – UN Open-Ended Working Group on ICT: Organisation of Work

Final

Agenda item 3: Organization of Work

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

1. At the outset let me express the EU and its Member States' full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
2. The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified act of aggression against Ukraine, which grossly violates international law and the UN Charter, and undermines international security and stability.
3. The EU demands that Russia immediately cease its military actions, withdraw all its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders, and abide by UN General Assembly resolution titled “Aggression against Ukraine” supported by 141 states at the 11th emergency special session. Russia also needs to stop its disinformation campaign and cyber-attacks.
4. In this light, we are here today with mixed feelings. We look forward to continuing our ever more important discussions on advancing an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace; the OEWG is an opportunity for the international community to exchange, in an open, inclusive and transparent manner, on the responsible use of ICTs by States in a manner that is consistent with their international obligations.
5. At the same time, we see Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, grossly violating the UN Charter. It is going to be sobering to see Russia during the coming week advocating again for an international treaty in cyberspace, while they are not even adhering to the norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
6. Based on its unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine, and its use of cyber tools in the context of that conflict, we can only assume that Russia is aiming to design a framework for all the other states to abide by, but which it will ignore itself.
7. Dear colleagues, let me be clear. Despite what Russia might say, the EU and Member States are committed to the application of the UN framework of responsible state behaviour, and to the substantive discussions with the international community on the use of ICTs. With the purpose to help us to advance international security and stability in cyberspace.
8. We therefore regret that Russia has broken silence on the modalities, and that they have shown no willingness to compromise, as it makes our formal discussions on this important issue difficult. This is a multilateral process, where trust, confidence and compromises by all are needed.
9. Chair, we have shown our commitment to the OEWG discussions, we have worked hard, and we have tried to find consensus on the modalities. We have made significant compromises on multiple occasions, but in a consensus-based process, compromise is required on all sides.
10. We thank the UN Member States that have joined our efforts in seeking a compromise on the modalities, and hope that we can find such compromise soon, in order for us to utilize the OEWG fully to advance international security and stability in cyberspace.
11. We therefore call upon Russia to stop frustrating the process, and start working to seek compromise as it practice in the UN. The lack of willingness to compromise is hampering our formal meetings of the OEWG. 
12. Nevertheless, you can count on us to advance the discussions on international security and stability, and to contribute pro-actively to the implementation of our work. 
13. It would however set an undesirable precedence in the working of the UN, and would be inappropriate, to continue our discussions on substance in a formal manner, as the modalities are not set yet. We therefore [support the suggestion] [see the need] to continue our discussions [in an informal setting] [without the Programme of Work adopted] until we have agreed upon modalities.
14. Let me however once again thank you Chair for your efforts and commitment to this process, and let me reiterate once more our full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.