Madame Chair,

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

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

At the outset, I would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance for the presentation of the Secretary-General’s report. 

We appreciate the ongoing commitment and resilience of UN staff — the Organization’s most valuable asset — as well as the continued efforts to manage the UN amid severe financial strain and to convey to Member States the urgent need to address this situation.

Regrettably, this statement will once again sound familiar — because the problem itself is not new. Despite repeated warnings, the Organization continues to face worsening liquidity challenges. The European Union and its Member States are deeply concerned that 2025 began with a cash deficit of $135 million, and that collections by April represent the lowest percentage in seven years. These cash shortfalls severely affect the United Nations’ ability to deliver on its mandates, jeopardize timely payments to Member States, and erode trust in the system as a whole.

In the context of UN80, as the Organization marks its 80th anniversary — a milestone reflecting our collective belief in a renewed global framework grounded in the principles and values of the UN Charter — our efforts to build a more resilient, efficient, accountable and fit-for-purpose United Nations are being undermined by unintended austerity. The European Union and its Member States firmly believe that building a strong Organization requires a steadfast commitment to its Charter, including the strong commitment to the legal obligations in Article 17. At the same time, we must also demand budgetary discipline, financial responsibility, and the implementation of a culture of efficiency.

Madame Chair,

The European Union and its Member States call upon the Committee to rise to this challenge. 

The root cause of this crisis remains unchanged: the lack of full and timely payment of assessed contributions by all Member States. Therefore, the European Union and its Member States reiterate, in the strongest terms, the obligation of every Member State to pay its contributions in full, on time, and without conditions. We also urge those unable to do so to communicate transparent and reliable payment plans to the Secretariat, to enhance predictability and enable responsible financial planning.

The data presented in the report is alarming, unpaid assessed contributions as of 30 April 2025 stood at $2.4 billion — up from $1.7 billion the previous year — and peacekeeping operations face a $2.7 billion shortfall. These are not abstract figures; they represent real operational risks, deferred mandates, and delayed payments to countries contributing personnel and resources.

The root cause of this crisis should be addressed. We will continue to support efforts to improve cash management and toward long-term, sustainable solutions. We call upon all Groups and Delegation to work together constructively and in a spirit of consensus to find a way forward. This session presents a new opportunity to analyse additional measures that minimize the impact of late and non-payments. However, such solutions must not place additional burdens on those who consistently meet their financial obligations, such as the European Union Member States.

Madame Chair,

The United Nations is facing enormous challenges, and it is the fundamental responsibility of the Fifth Committee, in particular, to ensure that the Organization has the necessary means to match the ambitions we collectively set through its mandates.

The European Union remains fully committed to engaging constructively and in a spirit of consensus to find lasting solutions to this financial crisis. In the meantime, we will continue to support the Organization with both responsibility and flexibility — including, where possible, by advancing payments and volunteering upgraded assessment categories for peacekeeping operations. 

But let us be clear: the burden cannot fall on a few. The solution lies in universal, timely, and full payment by all Member States.

Under your leadership, Madame Chair, and with collective will, we can reverse this cycle and enable the Organization to plan and deliver with confidence.

The European Union and its Member States stand ready to do their part.

To conclude, allow me to reiterate the full commitment of the European Union and its Member States to the United Nations.

I thank you, Madame Chair.

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