EU Statement – UN General Assembly 2nd Committee: Implementation of the Third UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
First, let me thank G77+China for presenting this draft resolution, Delegations for their valuable contributions, the co-facilitators Mr Hendrik Garcia from the Philippines and Ms Camila Ortiz from Chile, as well as the Secretariat.
The European Union and its Member States stand firmly behind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which guides our actions both internally and externally.
We regret that a vote has been called on this normally consensual resolution. We believe 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.
Fostering the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty is a founding principle of our international cooperation enshrined in the Treaty on European Union.
The EU and its Member States are the largest global ODA provider. The European Union – comprising only about 4% of the world's population and only about 17% of the world's GDP -provides over 42% of official development aid through the United Nations system, to help promote sustainable development and better lives around the world, for today’s and future generations.
We are particularly pleased to welcome the convening of the World Social Summit at which Doha Declaration was adopted.
We welcome that the resolution clearly stresses the need to reduce inequalities by investing in affordable, universal health coverage; universal social protection; food and nutrition security, universally accessible quality education and training, including digital skills; decent job creation, especially for young people, women and persons with disabilities. We also welcome the importance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the fight against poverty, including through gender-responsive policies and actions.
We would like to recall that the transfer of technology that we commit to must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms. We would have liked to see a clear and unambiguous language in the resolution in this regard.
The world nowadays requires more solidarity and cooperation. The EU and its Member States are committed to do their share.
Thank you.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.