EU Explanation of Position – UN General Assembly: Adoption of the Draft Resolution on the Organization of the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its 27 Member States. 

The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to multilateralism and sustained global action against HIV/AIDS, recognising it as an enduring worldwide challenge that demands a unified, international response. 

In that perspective, voted in favour of the Resolution on the organization of the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS and would have 3 messages: 

First, we reaffirm our strong support to the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, which was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly, and note that it must guide us in the negotiations of the upcoming Political Declaration. In addition, we strongly welcome the Global Aids Strategy 2026-2031 as one of the main basis for our upcoming discussions and we deeply regret its deletion from the final version of the text. We cannot reaffirm our commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 while simultaneously removing the strategic framework designed to get us there. In that perspective, the upcoming  high level meeting must build on the global AIDS strategy, adopted by consensus.

Second, in order to end HIV and AIDS as public health threats by 2030, a genuinely impactful approach must place the most vulnerable at its core while championing human rights and gender equality and tackling stigma and discrimination. We therefore welcome and insist on the need to focus on key populations and broader communities which will further guide our discussions on the Political Declaration. We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the role of civil society and community-led organisations in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which are often at the forefront, and welcome the fact that this modality resolutions will allow them to fully engage in the upcoming process. 

Finally, we would like to inform that we have to disassociate from OP6 since its impact on participation in the High-Level Meeting is unclear and the language without precedent; no recently agreed High-Level Meeting modalities resolutions contain this formulation.

Excellencies,

Despite our support, the EU and its Member States would like to reiterate our very strong concerns over the tight timeline of this process. While we engaged constructively and as a Group on the Modalities Resolution to be able to hold the High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS this June and renew our collective urgent commitment to bring an end to HIV/AIDS, we trust that these were exceptional circumstances and should not inform the working methods for the negotiations on the Political Declaration itself – which will require the necessary space for informed discussions towards an ambitious outcome.

Colleagues,

Despite the current complex global political climate, we must keep global health at the forefront of our efforts as it has been the case since the 2001 UNGA Special session on HIV/AIDS. We cannot fail those living with, affected by, or at risk of HIV.

The EU and its Member States remain fully committed to this goal and urge all member states to sustain their momentum and ambition ahead of the 2026 High-Level Meeting and beyond – ensuring no one is left behind on the road to 2030.

Thank you.