EU Statement -- UN General Assembly Fifth Committee: Main Session

Mister Chair,

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

The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

As we open the 81^st session, allow me to begin by warmly congratulating you on your election as Chair of the Fifth Committee. We are confident that your leadership will guide our work through a demanding agenda and steer our negotiations towards timely, balanced and successful outcomes. We also wish to extend our congratulations to the newly appointed members of the Bureau, with whom we look forward to working closely throughout the session.

At the same time, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to your predecessor, Ambassador Zsuzsanna Horváth, as well as to her team and the Bureau, for their dedication and leadership through an exceptionally demanding session.

Finally, we extend our gratitude to the members of the Fifth Committee Secretariat, and to all officers and staff of the United Nations, whose professionalism and commitment provide the foundation for our work.

Mister Chair, 

As we embark on this new session, allow me to highlight three overarching priorities.

1. The European Union and its Member States remain staunch supporters of effective multilateralism. 

The United Nations is at a pivotal moment, shaped by the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the continued advancement of the UN80 initiative, which has already yielded its first concrete outcomes, including the agreement on the 2026 budget and ongoing efforts to advance structural reform of the UN Secretariat. These efforts are further supported by complementary measures, such as the decision to introduce, on a trial basis, a revised methodology for credit return, which will help facilitate mandate implementation and support the broader reform process.

At a time when the Organization is also preparing for a transition to a new Secretary-General, these developments are not only milestones; they are an opportunity to reinforce our shared commitment to making multilateralism, anchored in the UN Charter and international law, deliver for all. We know that effective multilateralism is not always easy. It requires dialogue when positions diverge, flexibility when compromises are needed, and responsibility when difficult choices have to be made. In this spirit, the European Union and its Member States stand ready to work with all groups and delegations, collectively and by consensus, in the Fifth Committee to further modernise the organisation and to deliver on its mandate.

2. There cannot be an effective United Nations without adequate payment and funding of all its mandates.

In this regard, a primary duty of Member States is to meet their financial obligations to the Organization. The European Union and its Member States, which together are the largest contributor to the UN, fulfil this duty by paying our contributions in full, on time and without conditions. We therefore call on all Member States to do the same, and to meet their responsibilities to the Organization without delay.

The Fifth Committee has a particular responsibility in ensuring that mandated activities are appropriately resourced and that available resources are used responsibly. The European Union will consider the 2027 budget with UN80 firmly in mind. The experience of recent years should help us further accelerate a shift in organizational culture towards greater structural and cost efficiency, effectiveness and accountability, so that these principles are further embedded across the Organization, while respecting existing agreements and ensuring the implementation of the Pact for the Future.

This will require us to match ambition with resources and, equally, resources with realistic expectations. At the same time, we must preserve a balance across the three pillars of the Organization’s work: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Effective stewardship of resources also requires a continued focus on results, accountability and the implementation of oversight recommendations.

3. Third, we recognise that the session ahead will be both demanding and consequential.

Our agenda encompasses a wide range of issues, from oversight and budgetary matters to organizational structures, human resources, including the Common System on salaries and compensation and issues with direct implications for the delivery of the Organization’s mandates.

Against this backdrop, trust will be essential. We must approach our negotiations with assuming the responsibility entrusted in us and openness, pragmatism and a willingness to engage with the concerns of others. The effectiveness of this Committee ultimately depends not only on the decisions we adopt, but also on how we build them together.

Mister Chair, 

The European Union believes that the Fifth Committee should lead by example. Our working methods should reflect the very principles that underpin the revitalization of the General Assembly and that we seek to advance across the Organization: more efficiency, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and responsibility.

We strongly advocate for transparent and inclusive proceedings. We reiterate that multilingualism is a core and fundamental value of this Organization: accordingly, it is imperative that all documents be submitted on time and in all official languages to enable delegations to participate fully and effectively innegotiations. 

We also reaffirm our commitment to strive for consensus, a principle long upheld by the European Union and a cornerstone of the Fifth Committee’s work. 

In closing, Mister Chair, the European Union and its Member States are committed to working constructively with you, as well as with every group and delegation. We are confident that, under your leadership, we can rise to the demands of this session, conclude our negotiations on time and by consensus, and deliver on our shared responsibilities. You can fully count on our support in achieving this goal.

I thank you, Mister Chair.

1. ^

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