Check against delivery

Madame Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

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

Excellencies, Colleagues, 

We are at a defining moment for the UN-centered and -coordinated global humanitarian system.  Amidst polarizing geopolitics, humanitarians under attack, and the fall-out of reductions and shifting dynamics in global humanitarian funding, the objectives remain straightforward: (i) to save the lives of the millions of people worldwide depending on humanitarian assistance, (ii) to uphold their human dignity and protection, and (iii) to always uphold respect for International Humanitarian Law and for fundamental humanitarian principles, everywhere.

The European Union and its Member States remain fully committed to strengthening the UN coordinated global humanitarian system, established under UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182.   To best serve those in need, we must ensure that the multilateral aid system remains able to respond to the humanitarian needs of millions of people in today’s complex emergencies and protracted crises. This requires visionary humanitarian leadership at all levels, unwavering political commitment of Member States, and equitable strategic and operational partnerships between local, national, and international actors. Such leadership must prioritize inclusivity, innovation, and accountability to meet evolving challenges effectively.

The scale of todays’ humanitarian challenges demands united and coordinated multilateral responses, greater global solidarity, enhanced promotion of prevention, and smarter mobilisation and efficient allocation of resources. The European Union and its Member States have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to shoulder their share of responsibility. Last year, the EU and its Member States allocated over $9 billion of support for the provision of principled humanitarian assistance worldwide and the EU’s 2025 humanitarian budget started with an initial allocation of €1.9 billion for this year. We recognize the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps and commit to exploring new avenues for resource mobilization.

In view of the current challenges, we commend Under Secretary General Fletcher for his leadership in looking to address the long-standing issue of making the humanitarian system nimbler, more agile, more effective and efficient, focussing on the people most in need and in the most vulnerable situations, while facing a major budget crisis requiring extremely difficult decisions – be it re-prioritising its intervention strategies or downsizing staff and programmes. 

The long-standing reform is not only a shared objective between the EU and the UN, it is also an absolute necessity in today’s reality that is gaining greater prominence with the launch of the “Humanitarian Reset”.  The “Humanitarian Reset” is first and foremost an Inter-Agency Standing Committee endeavour. To be successful, it requires strong leadership, and some painful decisions from all of its members.  It requires a collective and combined effort from all actors to succeed. Donors, INGOs, UN agencies, local and national actors, as well as external partners, must be actively involved to ensure the process is inclusive, sustainable and truly transformative. True and effective transformation will require that the bold actions outlined can be realised. These include (i) the simplification of the Humanitarian Program Cycle and the focus on the priorities of people in need, (ii) the empowering of the RC/HCs and eliminating agency competition in the field, and (iii) the optimisation of the coordination architecture at all levels and the centralization and pooling of common services and collective responsibilities. It cannot but also look at staff costs, which comprise over 70% of the UN’s expenditure.

The EU and its Member States support Under Secretary General Fletcher’s efforts for change and we stand ready to further engage with the UN, Member States, other agencies and partners, to make sure the system as a whole moves in the same direction. Done well, the Humanitarian Reset could be a great impetus for broader UN reform efforts being undertaken in the context of the UN80 initiative. We emphasize the importance of inclusive partnerships that fully integrate local and national actors into the humanitarian response.

At the European Humanitarian Forum on 19-20 May in Brussels, we will have a unique opportunity for more in-depth discussions and exchanges on these issues with our humanitarian partners. Also at the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment in June in Geneva, a range of panels will provide ample opportunity for further discussions. These fora are so important to enable all of us to move forward together in this critical time of change – but we truly need to see effective action and we as the EU and its Member States stand ready to support this. 

We also welcome the initiative of Costa Rica to present a Call to Action at ECOSOC and I wish to reassure my friend and colleague Ambassador Maritza Chan-Valverde that you will find in the EU and its Member States a strong ally and reliable humanitarian partner.

Mister Under Secretary General, OCHA’s critical coordination role is pivotal to the success of a reformed humanitarian system. As Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, as head of OCHA and as Emergency Relief Coordinator, the importance of your vision and leadership cannot be understated. In this regard, you can count on the EU and its Member States to support you at every step of the way for bold action.

Thank you.

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