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EU Statement - Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS: UNFPA Segment

04.02.2026
New York

4 February 2026, New York – Statement by the European Union as a donor delivered by Ms. Amaya Einola, European Union Delegation to the United Nations, at the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS: First regular session 2026. UNFPA Segment (2-5 February)

Madam Executive Director,

 

I deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) as a donor.

 

Let me begin by thanking you for convening this session and for the reports before us. 

 

UNFPA’s mandate and work in development and humanitarian contexts is nothing less than essential, it is fundamental for sustainable development. 

 

The EU remains firmly committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the context of the Beijing Platform for Action and the ICPD Programme of Action and the outcomes of their review conferences. 

 

This commitment is reflected in our policies and partnerships, including through the EU Global Gateway strategy, the Global Health Strategy and Gender Action Plan. As announced by President von der Leyen, a new Global Health Resilience Initiative will be launched in 2026. 

 

Madam Executive Director, 

 

Allow me to highlight three key partnership areas.

 

First, under the African Union-EU Health Partnership, we recently launched two new regional SRHR programmes focused on commodities and strategic data and information, complementing the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme and the Global Gateway Flagship Project SafeBirth Africa.

 

Second, we remain a long-standing partner to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, which saves lives and enables women and girls to exercise their reproductive rights. We welcome the recent independent mid-term evaluation that confirms the Partnership’s strategic importance. 

 

Third, the EU is a strong supporter and main donor of UNFPA’s humanitarian action, including prevention of and response to gender-based violence. We appreciate that the independent evaluation underscores the need to strengthen the humanitarian-development-peace continuum. 

 

Madam Executive Director,

 

Turning to UN80, the EU sees the initiative as an opportunity to make the UN system more resilient, cost-efficient, effective and responsive in a context of declining public financing and selective partner disengagement. 

 

At the same time, any consideration of structural changes must be based on transparent, evidence-based analysis and meaningful engagement. The process should not be rushed and must allow for a thorough assessment of benefits, risks, operational and normative implications.

 

In this context, the EU is prepared to engage on a potential merger of UNFPA and UN Women as part of the UN80 process. It is essential that the merger, and the process leading to it, fully safeguards the integrity and specificities of both mandates and delivers concrete added value for women and girls. 

 

Against this background, how does the Executive Director intend to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any proposed reforms — including potential mergers or alternatives — are based on evidence, safeguards mandates and delivers clear system-wide efficiency and concrete added value for women and girls?

 

In closing, in a few weeks’ time, delegates from around the world will descend on New York for the 59th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD). We remain fully supportive of the important mandate of the Commission and look forward to engaging in the CPD process.  

 

The United Nations can always count on the continued support of the European Union.

 

Thank you.