EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive dialogue on unilateral coercive measures

Chair,

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

The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Alena Douhan, for her presentation and for her continued engagement with Member States. The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The EU adopts a limited and highly selective amount of restrictive measures to defend universal values and international law, to preserve peace and security, and to promote respect for democracy and human rights, in line with the principles of the UN Charter. Restrictive measures are a legitimate, rules-based, and non-punitive instrument of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, adopted in full compliance with international law. They are targeted, proportionate and reversible, and carefully designed to avoid any unintended consequences, including for food security of third countries around the globe.

EU sanctions complement and reinforce UN action. The EU assumes its responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, even when the Security Council is unable to act due to the veto of a permanent member. Autonomous sanctions are thus a peaceful measure of last resort, aimed at preventing impunity and deterring further violations.

Together with its Member States, the EU is the world’s largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance, including to countries under sanctions. In addition, the EU has introduced broad humanitarian carve-outs in its autonomous sanctions regimes, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022). This underlines our strong commitment to humanitarian principles and the protection of those most in need.

Thank you Chair!