EU General Statement - Follow-up to and implementation of the outcomes of the International Conferences on Financing for Development

Chair,

I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

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

At the outset, allow me to thank the facilitators, the Secretariat and other delegations for their collaboration and engagement.

A word of thanks to the Group of Friends of Monterrey, as well, for the support provided prior to the start of negotiations.

The EU welcomes the adoption of this resolution by consensus, especially in view of the decision to convene, in 2025, a fourth international conference on financing for development.

To assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, Doha Declaration and Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

And to address new and emerging issues.

We have one year and a half ahead of us.

Let us make it count.

During negotiations, we sought to be as focused and constructive as possible, with this goal in mind, cognizant of the fact that this resolution had to be balanced and fair, for everyone to start on the right foot.

This was no easy feat. Half of the text is the result of cofacilitator proposals.

While the spirit of compromise prevailed, going forward, we need to do better, bearing in mind that financing for development is based on partnerships.

For our part, while recognizing that detailed modalities were best addressed at a later stage, we thought it useful, under the Secretariat’s advice, to anticipate as many elements as necessary to get the ball rolling, giving ourselves enough time and resources to prepare.

In this vein, we welcome with appreciation the recognition of Spain’s offer to host the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, as well as the offers of Ethiopia and Mexico to host sessions of the intergovernmental preparatory committee as part of the preparatory process.

We are confident that each can contribute to the success of the preparatory process and the conference itself.

The EU stands ready to support them along the way and to continue engaging constructively on this file, including in view of the discussion of modalities early next year.

I thank you.

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