EU Statement – UN General Assembly 1st Committee: Regional Disarmament and Security
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
The EU has a long history of supporting actions which address threats to international and regional security and which promote disarmament.
The EU will continue to work for the peaceful resolution of regional instability and insecurity and of conflict situations. We strongly support the establishment of regional and sub-regional confidence- and security-building measures. Such measures which should be implemented on a basis of reciprocity and in good faith, build trust, enhance transparency and military predictability, avoid conflict and maintain stability, especially in situations of armed confrontation and areas of tension. We stress the need to advance and uphold the general arms control and disarmament processes and call for further progress on all aspects of disarmament to enhance global and regional security.
It remains a strategic priority of the EU to support peace and stability in the entire Middle East. The EU reaffirms its full support for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at between all States of the region concerned.We consider the 1995 NPT Resolution valid until its goals and objectives are achieved and strongly support the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference on the Middle East.
The security of all States is based on the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, which are fundamental parts of international law and the UN Charter. Unfortunately, these long-standing principles have not been respected by all States.
The EU and its Member States are concerned over the potential implications of armed attacks against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes, and call upon States to refrain from such actions, in accordance with international law.
Mr. Chair,
After more than three years, Russia’s unjustified and illegal full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine continues to inflict a devastating toll primarily on the Ukrainian people, with spill over effects felt in the wider region and across the globe. We condemn Russia’s actions to destabilise the global architecture for the maintenance of peace and security, including UN Security Council instruments. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security in a changing environment constitute an existential challenge for the European Union. We call for a full, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days which could serve as a vital step toward reducing civilian suffering and allow space for meaningful talks for genuine peace aimed at ending Russia’s war of aggression and restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. The EU and its Member States will continue to uphold international law and full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and work to ensure full accountability for crimes.
We recall that Russia has violated its internationalcommitment under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Russia’s illegal seizure and occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and military activities nearby endanger Ukraine, the region and the world. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s continued presence at Ukraine’s nuclear sites and in particular at the ZNPP is of paramount importance. We are grateful to the IAEA for all its work to contribute to mitigating nuclear safety and security risks and reiterate our call on Russia to grant full, timely and unrestricted access for IAEA experts to all requested locations, information and personnel at the ZNPP.
The EU condemns the military support for Russia’s aggression provided by the DPRK and Iran, as well as the Belarusian regime’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the announced deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. We note with concern China’s support to Russia’s military-industrial complex. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Mr. Chair,
The EU welcomes the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict put forward by President Trump to secure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. We note that all sides agree, including the government of Israel. We call on all parties to fully implement the agreement without delay, allowing for the establishment of a lasting ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and the unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza. This is a real chance to end the devastating war and the human suffering, and to forge a credible political path towards lasting peace and security, based on the two-state solution.
The disarmament, demobilising and re-integration (DDR) of all armed groups into unified national security forces is a prerequisite for internal security and political stability under the rule of law, as also part of a wider effort for security sector reform. In this respect, the EU recognises the initial efforts made by the Syrian transitional authorities and welcomes the agreement reached on 10 March 2025 between them and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The EU now calls on the parties to work on a swift, comprehensive and peaceful implementation of the agreement. The EU stands ready to support, alongside other partners, the security sector reform process.
Building national capacities and strengthening regional cooperation remain central to our efforts, as set out in the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition of 2018. In this context, we cooperate closely with UN regional centres and regional and sub-regional organisations.
Where possible, the EU supports maintaining a regional approach to disarmament and non-proliferation issues. Examples include the EU’s financial backing ahead of the 2026 NPT Review Conference for regional consultations by its President-Designate to gain a better understanding of States Parties’ priorities and concerns, or the EU’s support to the approach based on regional or sub-regional roadmaps to prevent and combat the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
The EU supports small arms and light weapons control projects, often in collaboration with regional organisations. In Africa, the EU has worked with the African Union, ECOWAS, UNREC, and RECSA. In Europe, the EU works with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Southeastern and Eastern Europe Clearing House for the Control on SALW (SEESAC), including by supporting the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to arms control in the Western Balkans. In Latin America, the EU works with the Organisation of American States, including on strengthening biological safety and security in Latin America, and UNLIREC. The EU also supports combating the illicit trade and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States.
Furthermore, other EU assistance activities focus on promoting universal adherence to and national implementation of key international instruments, including the CWC, the BTWC, UN Security Council Resolution 1540, and The Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation, to name a few. The EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative, with an estimated budget of 140 million EUR for the period 2021-2027, provides a platform for voluntary regional cooperation with 64 partner countries to mitigate risks posed by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.
Lastly, the EU also has a long history of support for actions that address the threat posed by anti-personnel mines, whether legacy or new contamination, and explosive remnants of war. The EU and its Member States remain a top donor in mine action, having contributed over 180 million EUR to humanitarian mine action since 2023.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.