HELSINKI, June 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday the world would need a stronger and "more intervening" European Union.
Addressing a major think tank seminar arranged by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, in Naantali, southwestern Finland, Guterres said the European Union is "missing action" in many areas where the UN and others would need it.
"We need multilateral systems and a clear set of rules for international relations. This is where the European Union has an absolutely crucial role to play," Guterres told some hundred Finnish politicians and specialists who were reviewing the future of the international system and the risks awaiting small countries in particular.
"Lack of trust is becoming a serious problem in international relations," he said. "The world is moving from bipolar or unipolar system to being multipolar. But multipolar does not mean that it would be harmonious and peaceful," he noted.
With a view to solving conflicts, Guterres underlined preventive work. "Mechanisms of control that existed earlier do not exist any longer. All the fault lines enhance each other and it is very difficult to find an entry point. And it is more and more difficult to solve conflicts."
Guterres said that for the first time since the cold war the risk of a nuclear conflict exists. Listing the current challenges, he mentioned the Middle East as the worst, coupled with the climate change, inequality, cyber security and proliferation risks of weapons. He assured, however, that he wants to remain optimistic.
The UN chief said the aims of the Paris climate meeting do not suffice but more has to be done. He said the climate change moves on faster than human can act.
He expressed concern with an increase in world inequality. Many areas in the world are lagging behind and that is a risk also from the security angle. Guterres said "a fair globalization" has not been created yet.
He warned of the threats related to the technological advance. There will be dramatic changes in the availability of jobs and in the structure of societies.
He said the international community is not prepared for that change. "We have had similar situations in the past, but usually there was time to adjust. It is not clear whether this impact can be absorbed." He believed countries with high technologies can survive the challenge, but not every country can.
He saw the future role of the UN as a platform for discussions. Guterres noted the traditional forms of regulations do not apply to artificial intelligence. UN could play a role, but rigid regulation would not be possible.
Earlier on Monday, Guterres met a high level advisory board on mediation in Helsinki. It has been initiated by the secretary general to strengthen mediation efforts and prevent conflicts.
Among the members of the board are former Finnish president Tarja Halonen, Nobel peace prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta and the former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet.