GENEVA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union on Monday adopted conclusions on EU action to strengthen rules-based multilateralism, underlining that the need to promote multilateral solutions is "more urgent than ever".

The EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva said in a statement on Monday that EU foreign ministers and defense ministers on Monday discussed the EU Global Strategy, following which the Council adopted the conclusions.

In the conclusions, the Council highlights that the EU's interest lies in a multilateral system that is rules- and rights-based, which protects the global commons, promotes shared public goods, and delivers benefits for citizens in Europe and across the globe.

"The Council reiterates that cooperation through effective multilateralism remains the best way to advance national as well as collective interests," the EU delegation said in the statement.

"The EU aims at an effective multilateral system that delivers results in tackling today's and tomorrow's global challenges," it added.

According to the statement, EU's strengthening the multilateral system will be based on three strands of action, namely upholding international norms and agreements, extending multilateralism to new global realities, and reform to make multilateral organizations fit for purpose.

The conclusions also identify concrete steps which the EU and its member states will use to take forward these objectives, it said.