Statement by Martin Schulz on the nomination of Antonio Guterres as UN Secretary General

I am delighted that Mr Guterres, a European candidate with vast experience, won such an overwhelming confidence from the members of the Security Council. This constitutes a very strong base upon which the new UN Secretary General can begin working from.

Mr Guterres is a highly competent person, with deep knowledge of handling very sensitive issues, bringing different positions together, and with a long experience of the United Nations. In his previous capacity as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Guterres is also a man intimately aware of one of the world's biggest challenges - refugees. I am certain that this will also play to his and everyone's advantage.

Mr Guterres has a long track-record of being a moderniser, first for his socialist party, and then for his country as former prime minister.

I am sure that Mr Guterres will be equally effective in strengthening the role of the UN at the heart of global governance.

I hope that one of the Secretary General's first missions will bring him to the European Parliament where we await him with our doors wide open.