EU Statement -- UN General Assembly Sixth Committee on Agenda item 124: “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”

Chair,

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

The Candidate Countries, North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.

Let me congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election and assure you of our full support.

The European Union and its Member States remain strongly committed to the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. We do not see this as a one-off exercise, but as a continuous effort to ensure that the General Assembly can fulfil its role with credibility, efficiency and relevance. For the Sixth Committee, revitalization should aim to create the conditions for the fulfilment of its multifaceted role as the Legal Committee of the General Assembly.

This session is an important moment in that effort. Pursuant to resolution 79/327, the General Committee is to present, on the basis of proposals from each Main Committee, concrete proposals on how to seek synergies and avoid duplication in the work of the Main Committees. At the same time, the Working Group on the Strengthening and Revitalizing of the Work of the General Assembly will address the role, authority and working methods of the Assembly. We are also committed to the implementation of resolution 80/251 on mandate creation, implementation and review. These processes, and the wider UN80 Initiative, should be fully aligned and mutually reinforcing, so that the multilateral system remains effective, inclusive, representative, accountable, cost-efficient and responsive. At a time of serious liquidity constraints, making the best use of our time and resources is all the more important.

Chair,

Last session, many delegations put forward useful and practical proposals. Our own views are set out in our statements and in the written observations we shared with the focal point. We should now resume the discussion on the basis of those ideas and, this time, reach a concrete and actionable outcome that the Committee can transmit to the General Committee in time for its work under paragraph 26 of resolution 79/327. To that end, we would welcome a synthesis of the proposals made, as a basis for focused discussions with a clear timeline. Practical changes that the Sixth Committee can already implement should not have to wait for the conclusion of the broader debate.

Let me briefly recall where we see the greatest potential.

First, agenda management. Resolution 79/327 strongly encourages Member States to reduce the frequency, length and number of resolutions. Starting from this session, it also encourages them to reintroduce substantially similar resolutions only when operational adjustments are being made. We remain open to the biennialization or triennialization of certain resolutions of this Committee. The significance of resolutions is not determined by the regularity of their update but by their impact and implementation. We also support three further steps: shorter texts that refer to previous resolutions rather than reproduce them; the simplification of the adoption of draft resolutions in this Committee along the lines of paragraph 28 of resolution 79/327; and criteria whereby requests for observer status deferred for a number of years are not reintroduced at each session.

Second, time management. We welcome the speaking time limits announced for this session, including for the debate on the report of the International Law Commission. Consistent and fair time management benefits all delegations, including smaller ones. It also frees time for informal consultations, which on difficult topics should start early enough to build consensus. For our part, we will continue to deliver shortened statements and submit fuller versions in writing when necessary.

Third, our dialogue with the International Law Commission. We see ample scope for a more structured, regular and active dialogue. This year’s debate on the Rule of Law, with its focus on strengthening cooperation between this Committee and the Commission, offers a timely opportunity to take this forward.

Fourth, inclusivity. Gender equality should continue to be reflected in our work, including in the composition of the Bureau and the Commission and in the selection of facilitators. Multilingualism also needs to be respected, preserved, and promoted; it is a foundational organizational value that ensures transparency, inclusivity, and equitable participation for all Member States as recalled by resolution 76/268. 

Chair,

For us, revitalization is about allowing this Committee to focus its time and resources on its core legal work and to make faster progress on it. The European Union and its Member States stand ready to work with you, the Bureau, the focal point and all delegations to achieve a concrete outcome during this session.

I thank you.

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