EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Our Common Agenda, Enhancing International Cooperation
Thank you, Mr President, Mr Secretary-General, Mister Chair,
I’m delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its MS.
North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova and Liechtenstein align themselves with this statement.
After having dedicated the first four clusters very much to discussing the WHAT - , today and tomorrow we will focus on the HOW and WITH WHOM.
There are 3 main blocks we are discussing today and tomorrow:
First, how to achieve an inclusive and networked multilateralism. It starts with making this organisation more inclusive, transparent and accountable by ensuring diverse and gender-responsive strategies and by promoting more systematic multi-stakeholder engagements. Actors like civil society, youth, Parliaments, the private sector, academia all add a distinct perspective and strengthen our decision-making.
Secondly, proposals related to upgrading this organisation to a UN 2.0, to make it fit for future challenges and crises.
And thirdly, proposals related to putting the UN on financially sustainable footing. Without that, an upgrading of the UN will be doomed to fail from the outset.
Promoting multilateralism and defending the rules-based international order, with the UN and its Charter at its core, is part of the EU’s DNA. Like the UN, the EU originated from the ashes of war, built to promote peace and anchored on the principle of mutual respect and cooperation and the conviction that might no longer made right.
Russia with its unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine showed total disregard for these principles by grossly violating international law and the UN Charter, and undermining international security and stability. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression and call on it to abide by its international obligations. Two weeks into this war, with the loss of life and suffering growing by the minute, Russia has still not shown any sign of changing its course - in blatant disrespect for the resolution adopted in this hall on 2 March, which demanded Russia to cease immediately its military actions and withdraw all its forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We strongly condemn the ongoing violations of international law committed by Russian forces, and stand in full solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
Today’s times call for engaging systematically with all relevant actors. For instance, the EU and many others have echoed throughout these consultations the indispensable role of women across UN processes. We would further benefit from input by other actors, including from the private sector. This would increase the UN’s legitimacy, while helping all of us to better communicate to our citizens why this organisation matters. Opening the UN up will enrich our work and should not be seen as a threat to the principle that decisions eventually rest with the Member States.
The active participation by CSOs in the UN work is nothing new, it is defined in the Charter and in ECOSOC resolution 1996/31. In reality, CSOs still face many obstacles. The EU calls on ECOSOC to reform the NGO Committee, introducing transparency and not allowing accreditations be taken hostage by political interests. At a time of shrinking space for civil society, we strongly welcome the proposal for creating a dedicated focal point for civil society in all UN entities, supported by an enhanced role for the UN Office for Partnerships.
The EU also fully supports the proposal for creating an ‘Advisory Group on Local & Regional Governments” as well as better involving national and regional parliaments and seeking their inputs across UN processes. Their role - through legislation, by approving the necessary budgets and by shaping our debates and holding us all accountable - is essential. This is the case in the EU, where the European Parliament plays a key role.
The engagement of the private sector and businesses is also increasingly important, bolstering public-private partnerships when it comes to – though not limited to –accelerating the implementation of the SDGs and advancing climate action, including through inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Strengthening cooperation with the IFIs is also key in the context of improving economic governance.
Lastly, we are in favour of enhancing cooperation between the UN and regional organisations and take note of your proposal, Mr Secretary-General, for convening an annual meeting with all heads of regional organisations.
Moving on to the second building block: Making the UN fit for the future. A UN 2.0. This is an ambitious, but indispensable undertaking. We cannot address 21st century problems with a 20th century toolbox. We need a mind-set shift from simply reacting to better global challenges and crises, such as conflicts, food insecurity or climate change, to preventing and better anticipating crises and major trends, such as digital and green transitions or demographic change, and embedding our assessments in our strategic planning and policy-making.
The EU welcomes your approach, Mr Secretary-General, to upgrading the UN by investing in the “Quintet of Change”, with a stronger focus on data, results-based management, and strategic foresight. These capabilities are foundational to the concept of UN2.0 towards a more agile and future-oriented UN system. We support this proposed transformation, coupled with your ambition for the UN to become more strategic in knowledge production. We lend our full support to strengthening the UN’s role as a source of reliable date and evidence, and welcome your intention, to re-establish your ‘Scientific Advisory Board’. The EU stands ready to share its expertise, including on strategic foresight.
The Summit of the Future will the right occasion to take stock and advance on this transformation process. The EU looks forward to engaging across the various high-level tracks and on the various proposed deliverables, such the New Agenda for Peace, the Global Digital Compact, or Outer Space Governance. We would like to see a visionary and ambitious Summit outcome.
As I mentioned in the beginning, all the proposals related to a more inclusive UN 2.0 are null and void if we do not ensure sustainable funding for efficient and effective delivery of this organisation To that end, we fully support initiatives to improve the budgetary framework and to tackle the root causes of the persistent liquidity challenges, which hamper mandate execution. We reiterate that the annual budget, a cornerstone of management reform, is the adequate framework to formulate and execute budget, as it increases both managerial authority and accountability.
Lastly, by fully using all its Human Rights mechanisms, and leveraging their complementarity with other pillars and processes, the UN will be better equipped to address the challenges of our time. These mechanisms must be sufficiently funded. OHCHR already suffers an annual funding gap of more than 20 million dollars, and additional voluntary funding is needed. The EU fully supports the call to ensure better funding for Human Rights.
Mr President, Mr Secretary-General, the EU will remain constructively engaged throughout the process, leading up to the various Summits, and looks forward to your guidance on next steps. I thank you.