EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Joint debate on Peacebuilding

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• Mme. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates 

   

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

   

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

   

• I stand before you today with a profound sense of responsibility and hope as I address the General Assembly during this first-ever Peacebuilding Week. Last year’s Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) reconfirmed our collective commitment to maintaining peacebuilding as a global priority.

• The European Union has been deeply engaged in the Peacebuilding Architecture review process and continues to support the ongoing UN80 process. Our key focus now is its implementation. One critical lesson from the review is the urgent need to communicate more effectively about the positive impact of peacebuilding. Peacebuilding Week marks an important step forward. To support implementation, we have launched a year-long series of EU-supported events that will produce cross-regionally anchored policy recommendations on UN peacebuilding and conflict prevention by early next year.

• We particularly welcome strengthened interaction between the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the UN Security Council, enhancing the PBC’s advisory role. 

• This cooperation is essential as we confront a world marked by spreading conflicts, deepening fragility, lives disrupted, futures stolen, and communities torn apart. 

• This reality reminds us that peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, opportunity, the enjoyment of human rights, and inclusive governance. The Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) and the Peacebuilding Fund’s annual report confirm what we already know: prevention works, partnerships matter, and investing in peace saves lives and resources.

• The European Union was built on the ashes of war, forged from the belief that peace is not inevitable but a choice we must make every day. Today, as a union of 27 democracies, we remain committed to that founding principle. We are not just observers of this global challenge -we are active participants in the solution.

• Let me highlight three key areas where our partnership with the United Nations is making a difference:

• First, on prevention. The PBAR recognized that prevention is not just desirable - it is cost-effective. For every dollar invested in prevention, we save seven dollars in post-conflict reconstruction. Investing in conflict prevention saves lives and fosters development. To support this, the EU has developed a robust early warning and conflict analysis methodology that enhances our ability to act before conflicts escalate.

• Second, on partnership. The reports before us show that no single actor can address these complex challenges alone. This is why we work in a Team Europe approach. The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is also an example whereby the EU and its Member States have contributed over EUR 630 million to the PBF and remain its main contributor, providing 60% of total funding since its inception. The PBF has proven to be a valuable instrument in supporting coordinated efforts across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The PBF’s catalytic capability must be further leveraged by reinforcing partnerships at the local level, with civil society and regional organizations, and where relevant, with the private sector and international financial institutions. In the context of the current funding crisis, we must make the best use of available funds.

• The EU-UN Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security, launched last year, strengthens work on common priorities such as conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, and peace operations. 

   

• Third, on innovation. The PBF’s focus on cross-border and regional approaches reflects our shared understanding that conflicts do not respect borders. The EU is committed to supporting innovative approaches.

But we must do more:

• First: Scale up prevention efforts by investing in early warning systems and inclusive dialogue processes.

  • Second: Strengthen national ownership of peacebuilding processes by supporting local peacebuilders and ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of all segments of society, especially women and youth.

  • And third: Enhance UN cohesion and integrated delivery on the ground by breaking down silos between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. This is also recognized in the EU most recent policy – the EU communication on humanitarian aid and its renewed integrated approach to fragility.

• Peace is not a given. It requires courage, commitment, and immediate action. The reports before us are not just documents, they are calls for action. Let us answer those calls together.

• The EU’s unwavering commitment to the multilateral system, based on international law and with the UN at its core, remains firm. We will continue to strongly support peacebuilding and conflict prevention, as well as the UN’s efforts in this regard. Our commitment translates into concrete actions and support.

• In conclusion, let me stress once more: together, in partnership, we can deliver on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which lie at the heart of both the UN and the EU. The UN can count on the European Union’s continued support.

• Thank you.

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