UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Donald Tusk said Thursday that the European Union (EU) is fighting to preserve the rules-based international order, which, he said, is under great strain in terms of trade, security, climate change and human rights.
"We say this not only as countries strongly supporting the United Nations, but as a continent that cares deeply about respect, mutual understanding and solidarity between nations," Tusk told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
"As leaders, we must equip the United Nations with the means to fulfil its mandate successfully. More unity and collective action are needed in the struggle against conflict, poverty and famine, terrorism and mass displacement of people, of the kind we see in Venezuela, Syria, Myanmar and many other places."
To that end, the EU firmly supports the current effort to reform the UN, he said. "These reforms are badly needed and overdue. The urgency is clear and implementation is essential."
Tusk said that the EU is committed to the Iran nuclear deal.
The deal has also helped to create space for dialogue on other concerns, like Iran's regional behavior and ballistic missile programs, he said while addressing nuclear issues.
The agreement is good for European, regional and global security, he said. "That is why the European Union is committed to maintaining the agreement -- as long as Iran remains fully committed to it."
Tusk was commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump's decision earlier this year to quit the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia as well as the United States, and to re-impose sanctions on Iran.
Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
After the U.S. withdrawal, the remaining five powers have been trying to keep the deal afloat.
The foreign ministers of the five powers and Iran met on Monday on the margins of the UNGA to reaffirm their support for the deal.
After chairing the meeting, EU foreign and security policy chief Federica Mogherini said the EU will set up a legal entity to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
The legal entity will allow European companies to continue to trade with Iran in accordance with EU law and could be open to other partners in the world, said Mogherini. The EU action immediately drew fire from Washington, saying the EU move is unacceptable.
The EU is taking on more responsibility for security matters, said Tusk. "We have initiated ambitious cooperation among our own militaries. We are ready to step up help to our neighbors through crisis management missions, capacity building and peacekeeping, in cooperation with others, including NATO, the African Union (AU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe."
He promised to work with the AU and the UN on migration and peacekeeping.
The EU is committed to the fight against climate change, said Tusk. "Even though only slow progress is being made on our main task, namely to implement the Paris Agreement, the EU remains fully committed to it and makes it a priority in its relations with our partners."
