EU General Statement – UN General Assembly 2nd Committee: Operational Activities for development of the UN system

Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

At the outset, we would like to thank the G77 and China for presenting a streamlined draft resolution. We would also like to thank the facilitator – Ms Nadia Benani of Switzerland – for her effective guidance of the negotiations, and the Secretariat for its support.

One year on from the successful and consensual adoption of the 2024 QCPR, we welcome this resolution. 

We are pleased to see that the resolution refers to the ongoing UN80 process – a process which we believe should strengthen, rather than weaken, the UN development system, so that it can fulfil its role in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in an increasingly complex global context.

Furthermore, we support the emphasis on adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the UN development system, including the Resident Coordinator system. We also support the call to prioritize voluntary contributions to core, pooled, thematic and joint funding mechanisms, including the Joint SDG Fund, and to advance the full and effective implementation of the Funding Compact. 

We particularly value the importance placed on United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, the recognition of the Resident Coordinator’s leadership in ensuring coordinated, country-driven support, and the call for continued improvement of country team configuration exercises and related system-wide efficiencies, so that resources can be channelled more optimally to delivering tangible results on the ground.

Finally, we commend the focus on transparency, accountability and evidence-based reporting, including the request for comprehensive, analytical reporting and better use of evaluation and oversight mechanisms with an emphasis on development results. 

Throughout the negotiations, the EU engaged openly and constructively, looking for compromise and for an eventual consensus text. 

(We regret that a vote has been called on this normally consensual resolution. We believe that this undermines our collective effort and the constructive spirit of striving for consensus which has been a tradition in this committee and has also guided the negotiations on this resolution this year. The EU and its Member States continue to support this important resolution and will therefore vote in favor).

I thank you.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.