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EU Statement – UN Peacebuilding Commission: Annual Session

26.06.2026
New York

25 June 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union by Mr. Peter Wagner, Head of the Commission Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), at the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session

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  • Mr. President, Secretary-General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

  • I am honoured to address the annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission on behalf of the European Union during this historic first-ever Peacebuilding Week. 

  • The European Union itself was conceived as a project of peace, integration, and cooperation in the aftermath of the Second World War. Today, we stand as a major economic and diplomatic force and a strong advocate of multilateralism, fully committed to a multilateral system based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter –a system that ensures peace and security, respect for human rights and sustainable development for all.

  • But Peace cannot be taken for granted. The world today faces unprecedented challenges: violent conflicts are spreading, fragility is deepening, and the human, social, and economic costs rise. In this context, the EU-UN partnership on peace and security with new joint priorities for 2025-2028 is more important than ever. 

  • The EU and UN share values and stakes: the EU and its Member States remain the largest and most reliable financial pillar of the UN system providing roughly 1/3 of the total funding for the UN system.

  • We are at the EU in the process of negotiating our budget and political priorities for the upcoming 7 years and working hard to make sure peace and security are properly catered for. 

  • The UN has never been more needed, and jointly -in partnership- we need to make sure the UN system becomes more efficient, more transparent and more inclusive. Brief, that it can live up to today’s challenges. And I want to thank, on behalf of the EU, SG Guterres for his efforts in this respect.

  • Last year, we saw the consensus conclusion of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review. The EU championed the meaningful participation of European civil society, ensuring that the voices of those closest to the ground were heard. Building on the Pact for the Future, one of the most significant achievements was the recognition of prevention as a universal path to sustainable peace. This is not just a policy shift; it is a paradigm shift.

  • We congratulate the PBC for its accomplishments over the 20 years since its establishment and support the ongoing implementation of the PBAR. This first-ever Peacebuilding Week is a testament to our collective commitment to turn words into action.

  • Looking ahead, the EU has launched a year-long, cross-regional series of discussions that will produce policy recommendations on UN peacebuilding and conflict prevention by early next year. We look forward to working with interested members to advance this shared agenda.

  • In closing, let me stress that only together, in partnership, we can deliver on peacekeeping and conflict prevention, which lie at the heart of both the UN and the EU.

  • Thank you.