EU Statement – Briefing on the 2026 Financing for Development Forum outcome

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Excellencies, dear colleagues,

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its Member States. 

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia and Andorra align themselves with this statement.

I would like to start by congratulating Ambassadors Anna Jóhannsdóttir of Iceland and Ali Naseer Mohamed of the Maldives on their appointment to facilitate this process, and we thank you for your swift leadership in convening this first consultation. 

Following the successful adoption of the Sevilla Commitment in 2025, the FfD Forum this year must serve as the first major pitstop and space for us to ensure that it is being translated into concrete action, in full line with the “Sevilla spirit.”   

Colleagues, for the EU and its MS, the FfD process is about ensuring that multilateralism continues to deliver effective and credible action to finance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. 

We know that we are not sufficiently on track. 

We know that the challenges are numerous. 

But we also know that, at a time of deepening financing gaps and geopolitical shifts, Heads of State and Government and numerous other stakeholders showed up and confirmed that multilateral cooperation remains a driving force for sustainable development, especially for the most vulnerable.

It is encouraging to see that the implementation of the Sevilla Commitment is already gaining traction. Including via the Sevilla Platform Action initiatives, some stemming directly from and many closely linked to the provisions of the Commitment.

In April, the FfD community meets in New York. The Forum needs to take stock of where we are now. It must serve as a space for presenting progress in the implementation of both the Sevilla Commitment and the initiatives of the Sevilla Platform for Action, and beyond. 

And it must be an inclusive platform and stepping stone for more cooperation and further efforts. As it has been in the past.   

We wish to highlight three important points regarding the Forum’s outcome document, its political framing, and the preparatory process.  

First, on format and scope: the document should be concise and focused 

The outcome document should be a streamlined, high-level political text, consistent with the Sevilla Commitment. 

We should avoid repetitive technical details and instead focus on a few concise conclusions that are relevant and actionable.

A concise format will ensure that our key messages are clear. 

Crucially: the outcome cannot be and should not be a renegotiation of the Sevilla Commitment. Some Members supported parts of Sevilla more than others and vice versa. But we endorsed the Commitment as a whole. For us, it is of utmost importance that this year’s forum message – a first after Seville - should confirm the overall collective engagement of our Heads of State and Government and provide a sharp political signal to that end.

Furthermore, our key messages should be - to the extent possible - aligned with the biennial review cycle as newly established in the Sevilla Commitment.  A strong focus should be on progress in and prospects for the four priority areas under in-depth review this year:

• Domestic and international private business and finance;
• International trade as an engine for development;
• International financial architecture and systemic issues;
• Data, monitoring, and follow-up.

Framing this year’s discussions around these four pillars, we can sharpen the focus and achieve the aim of enhanced depth and quality of dialogue.

Second, on the process: we encourage strong ownership of the process by the cofacilitators 

Dear co-facilitators, we trust you to listen to the membership and ensure participation of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations. Focus should be on the main messages and common ground that emerge. We will achieve nothing by debating details line by line, losing focus from what should be a limited number of strong and actionable key messages. 

Third, the EU and its MS would like to underline that the outcome document must rely on the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) Report as its substantive foundation. 

In the Sevilla Commitment, the membership acknowledged the centrality of the work of the IATF and requested an enhanced and more focused format for the Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR). Our outcome document should reflect this, and encourage a report that serves as a robust accountability tool tracking, monitoring, and strengthening progress. 

Colleagues, we look forward to further discussions and reflections over the next few weeks. The EU and its Member States remain committed to a transparent, inclusive and efficient process that provides a concise and sharp political framing document. We look forward to working with all partners to ensure that the 2026 FfD Forum is successful in terms of both dialogue and delivery. Thank you.

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