Mr. Chair,

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, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, as well as Monaco align themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chair,

50 years ago, at it its twenty-ninth session in 1974, the General Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee on the Charter of the United Nations to consider proposals with a view to enhancing the ability of the United Nations to achieve its purposes and with the aim to make other suggestions for the more effective functioning of the United Nations that might not require amendments to the Charter.

A year later, at its thirtieth session in 1975, the General Assembly reconvened the Ad Hoc Committee as the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. Ever since, the Special Committee on the Charter has met yearly as a forum to foster dialogue and ensure that the UN Charter remains the compass guiding the ever-evolving landscape of international relations.

Among the instruments adopted by the Special Committee throughout the years, the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes of 1982 stands out as its first achievement. Building upon general principles of international law, the UN Charter, in particular Article 33, the Manila Declaration outlines principles and commitments aimed at promoting peaceful means for the settlement of  disputes between nations.

Discussions in the Special Committee have equally led to the adoption of the UNGA Resolution 57/26 on prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes. This Resolution is key in reaffirming the duty of States to use peaceful means to settle any dispute to which they are parties, which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. It encourages States to settle their disputes as early as possible.

The Special Committee has equally been instrumental in discussing sanctions imposed by the United Nations. Indeed, UN sanctions are an important tool under the Charter for the  maintenance of international peace and security without recourse to the use of force. The annual briefing on UN sanctions is a good opportunity for an exchange with the UN Secretariat, including on the implementation of sanctions.

Sanctions adopted outside UN auspices do not fall within the scope of the Special Committee. Any attempts to discuss them in the Special Committee should be reconsidered. Autonomous restrictive measures are a legitimate tool of foreign and security policy to preserve peace and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law.

Mr. Chair,

The instruments adopted so far by the Special Committee are consequential. We find it important that the Special Committee continues to engage on such key topics that could muster consensus and could potentially lead to a new instrument.

However, in the recent years, if not decades, the Special Committee’s work has seen a setback. A number of proposals on its agenda are duplicative of efforts made elsewhere or do not bring real added value.

We firmly believe that there is a need to streamline the work and working methods of the Special Committee.

We stand ready to engage further.

I thank you.

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