EU Statement – UN Security Council Arria-meeting: Upholding International Law in Situations of Armed Conflict
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Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.
At a time of serious violations of the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the international legal order, with the United Nations at its core, remains the essential framework to ensure peace and security. The EU remains committed to advancing this framework. As the basic principles of humanity are increasingly contested in conflict zones, the EU and its Member States stand firm in their commitment to uphold international humanitarian law, as well as to protect humanitarian personnel and advance humanitarian diplomacy.
Civilians and persons hors de combat are increasingly falling victims to serious breaches of IHL. The EU is engaged on this front in diverse contexts. In 2025, we funded projects to close gaps in monitoring violations of international humanitarian law, strengthen data collection, and reinforce evidence-based advocacy. Across contemporary conflicts, we consistently call for the protection of civilians, respect for prisoners of war, protection of civilian infrastructure, and the strict application of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, regardless of context.
Since 2005, the EU Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law have provided operational tools to pursue this work in a visible and consistent manner. All 27 EU Member States are members of the Global Initiative to galvanize political commitment for IHL, which seeks to develop a set of concrete and actionable recommendations to ensure the impartial, consistent and universal application of existing IHL obligations, including in the face of new and emerging challenges. We call on all States to join the Initiative and attend the High-Level Meeting taking place in Jordan on 7 December 2026.
Chair,
International law must be applied consistently and without exception. No context or conflict can justify departure from it.
The Security Council, entrusted with primary responsibility for the maintenance international peace and security, bears particular responsibility for upholding international law. We note with grave concern violations of international law, including, repeatedly, by one UNSC permanent member. We are also concerned about the persistent failures to implement Security Council’s decisions.
The Council retains nonetheless a broad set of tools to advance compliance. Peace operations remain indispensable instruments to find political solutions to conflicts, while upholding international law, protecting human rights, and helping reduce the risk of renewed violence. Decisions on withdrawal must account for their immediate and adverse impact on the most vulnerable.
Violations must entail accountability. We must protect the institutions that uphold international law and ensure accountability for violations.
We underline the essential role of the ICJ in the peaceful settlement of disputes and in the application and clarification of international law, and we urge all States that submitted their disputes to the Court to comply with its judgments and orders.
We also emphasize the crucial contribution of the ICC to ending impunity for the most serious crimes, and the need to preserve and protect its independence, impartiality and effective functioning. The operationalization of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, within the Council of Europe framework, enjoys the EU’s strong support, in line with our consistent commitment to international law and accountability mechanisms.
Impartial and independent investigations remain crucial for deterrence and justice for victims. The EU and its Member States will continue to support these mechanisms.
Thank you.
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.