The United Kingdom wants to ensure an international system fit for the 21st century exists. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has identified three priorities for institutional reform:

Tackling poverty and climate change are an absolute priority. And the increased flow of international capital and deepened economic interdependence between countries also require international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to reform and act in different ways.

In respect of the United Nations the UK has two urgent priorities for reform:

• Brazil, Germany, India, Japan and Africa should be brought into the UN Security Council (UNSC). Greater global representation will consolidate the UNSC's primacy and authority on international peace and security. The UK would support an intermediate solution if necessary to break the deadlock.

• A reformed and coherent UN post - conflict and stabilisation system. The UK wants great integration; more effective funding in the early recovery period and more rapidly deployable civilian capabilities.

The Government supports ongoing efforts to modernise the management of the UN secretariat. In particular: human resource management and budgetary reform.

The UK supports the early ratification of the Lisbon treaty which will enhance the effectiveness of the European Union. The UK ratified the treaty in June 2008.