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Excellencies, colleagues,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

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

First, let me thank the co-chairs, the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Mongolia, as well as their teams, for their tireless efforts earlier this year to deliver a document that we can all get behind. I would also like to thank all negotiators for the constructive engagement, and the secretariat for their invaluable support. The EU welcomes the new Programme of Action for LLDCs for the decade 2024-2034.

Colleagues,

We are living through an unprecedented moment of multiple intersecting crises, which disproportionately affect poorer countries and the most vulnerable. The EU recognizes the urgent need to ensure that unique challenges faced by Landlocked Developing Countries are properly addressed in order to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Programme of Action which we adopt today will help translate into action the ambitions of the Pact for the Future. We feel confident that the new deliverables for LLDCs found in the new Programme of Action will help lay the foundation for improving connectivity, reducing trade costs, diversifying and strengthening economies, enhancing agricultural productivity, attracting investments in infrastructure, creating jobs, supporting human capital development and enhancing resilience to climate change over the next ten years.

Moreover, we are pleased to see that the programme integrates language on both climate adaptation and mitigation. Combining mitigation efforts with adaptation strategies will enhance LLDCs’ resilience to the economic, security, health and climate crises the world may face in the future, and build sustainability. This holistic approach will ensure LLDCs can achieve long-term, sustainable development while contributing to global climate goals. 

In that regard, the EU will continue to call for more efficient and increased financial resources to LLDCs on the path towards achieving the SDGs. Our own efforts have already begun under Global Gateway, with projects and investments that will enhance connectivity, build infrastructure, and promote sustainability with our partner countries.

We committed investments to transform the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor in Central Asia, and are working with the African Union on 12 priority corridors under the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, matching the ambitions of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). As EU, we support key projects to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment that benefit LLDCs, as reflected by our commitment to finance the Lobito Corridor’s infrastructure and to create an enabling environment around it that attracts sustainable and quality investments.

This is how we support the LLDCs’ transition from ‘land-locked’ to ‘land-linked’. Today Team Europe is the lead donor to LLDCs: we provided nearly EUR 8 billion in 2022[1].

It is in this spirit of continued engagement with LLDCs that the EU and its Member States look forward to the swift convening of the third Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, following the recent postponement. The Conference will provide a once-in-a decade opportunity to articulate new and ambitious commitments for LLDCs, and to collectively embark on a path of implementing the new Programme of Action, in order to tackle ongoing challenges, build resilience against future shocks, and accelerate implementation of the SDGs ahead of the term of the 2030 Agenda.

Dear colleagues,

The EU recognizes that the developmental success of the LLDCs is vital for global prosperity and sustainable development worldwide. We are committed to a successful LLDC3 conference, and we stand ready to constructively working with the LLDCs on the priorities of the new Programme of Action, in the spirit of renewed and strengthened partnership.

The LLDCs can count on the continuous support of the European Union as we move forward together.

I thank you.

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

[1] NB: EUR 13 billion when counting contributions through the multilateral system.