EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Nelson Mandela International Day
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra and the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.
Among the countless memorable pronouncements of Nelson Madela, this one is particular pertinent for today’s discussion: “Like slavery and apartheid,” he said, “poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.”
The European Union and its Member States are committed to eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions and to reducing inequalities, in line with Madiba’s vision, firmly grounded in a human rights–based approach. Because, to follow Mandela’s lead, the actions of human beings and the institutions they run can and must make the decisive difference in this fight
In Europe itself, this spring, the European Commission adopted the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which aims to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2050 and lift at least 15 million people out of poverty or social exclusion by 2030.
We are breaking the cycle of child poverty through a European Child Guarantee, improving access to childcare, education, healthcare, mental health services, and supporting vulnerable children and their families.
And globally, the EU and its Member States work in close partnership with developing countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda and ensure no one is left behind. Fostering sustainable economic, social and environmental development with the primary aim of eradicating poverty is a founding principle of our international cooperation, enshrined in the Treaty on European Union. And ending poverty is also a key prerequisite to achieve progress across all the SDGs.
When it comes to supporting sustainable development, the EU and its Member States remain the biggest providers of official development assistance through the United Nations system, despite the financial stresses of the UN. Our interventions are aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting decent work, strengthening social protection systems, and advancing gender equality, as well as inclusive and sustainable growth. We note with concern the historical decline in ODA worldwide in 2025 and are committed to continue leading by example as Team Europe, encouraging others to do so as well.
The creation of decent, sustainable and quality employment, and formalisation of existing jobs, is not only a gainful road to social development, but also a powerful tool to eradicate poverty in all its forms.
The ILO framework of decent work gives us a common approach and common responsibility to prevent poverty. Supporting quality jobs is a crucial element of decent work to prevent in-work poverty, unsafe working conditions, and labour market segmentation.
Universal social protection reduces poverty and inequality; it promotes social cohesion and facilitates human development and access to decent working and living conditions.
Colleagues, the “human beings” that Nelson Mandela talked about, in this Institution, is us.
Last year’s World Social Summit with the consensual adoption of the Doha Declaration was a clear demonstration that multilateralism and multilateral cooperation not only deliver but remain indispensable. Only by working together can we eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities.
Including through ODA and the Global Gateway Infrastructure Initiative, the European Union and its Member States will continue cooperating with all partners to eradicate extreme poverty and all other forms of poverty, worldwide.
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.