Mr. President,

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^* align themselves with this statement.

The European Union welcomes the ceasefire agreement of 27 November 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, following the mediation efforts undertaken in particular by France and the United States. It urges the parties to implement the ceasefire as agreed, and calls for the full and symmetric implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The EU recalls in that context the fundamental stabilisation role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. We will continue to support the Lebanese State’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and State-building efforts, including by contributing to the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The EU also warmly welcomes the election of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the designation of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister. These significant steps mark a moment of hope and renewal for the Lebanese people.

Following the fall of Assad’s criminal regime in Syria, the European Union reiterates the historic opportunity to reunite and rebuild the country, restore justice and ensure accountability, and underlines the importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, in line with the core principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

In this respect, the European Union continues to support the work of the UN Special Envoy for Syria in facilitating this process, as well as UN and its mechanisms, particularly with regard to accountability, reconciliation and humanitarian assistance. Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within secure borders should be fully respected, in accordance with international law.

We underline the need to address the severe and continuing humanitarian needs of Syrian people and to ensure respect for human rights, including women’s rights, non-sectarian governance, and the protection of members of all religious and ethnic minorities, and to safeguard Syria’s cultural heritage. We call on all parties to preserve national unity and ensure the protection of all civilians and the provision of public services, as well as the creation of conditions for an inclusive and peaceful political transition and for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrian refugees, as defined by the UNHCR.

The EU also emphasises the importance of the fight against terrorism, of preventing the re-emergence of terrorist groups, and of destroying Syria’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles, with the assistance of the OPCW.

The EU has started discussions on its sanctions on Syria to adjust them in light of the ongoing developments.

The EU warmly welcomes the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which will allow the phased release of the hostages - ending their terrible ordeal that has lasted for more than 15 months – end hostilities and ease the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. We are relieved that the hostages, including several EU nationals, will finally be reunited with their loved ones and that much needed humanitarian aid will reach civilians in Gaza. It is vital that the deal is fully implemented to allow all the hostages to be released, and to ensure a permanent end to hostilities.

We extend our gratitude to the US, Egypt and Qatar for their efforts in negotiating the ceasefire, which we had consistently called for. This is a significant achievement, which should have positive repercussions across the Middle East.

The EU deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, especially women and children, in Gaza and the West Bank, and the catastrophic levels of hunger and imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza. It also recalls the need to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders.

The European Union expresses its deep concern over the consequences of the Israeli legislation adopted on 28 October 2024 on UNRWA’s capacity to operate its mandate. The EU stresses the essential role of UNRWA, which provides crucial support to the civilian population, both in Gaza and the West Bank, and in the wider region. Continued implementation of the UNRWA Action Plan is key, including the implementation of the Colonna report. It is essential that UNRWA can continue carrying out its crucial work in line with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1949 and renewed since.

The EU strongly condemns the further escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, following increased terrorist attacks, settler violence, the expansion of illegal settlements and Israel’s military operation. The EU calls for safe access to the holy sites and for the Status Quo to be upheld. The EU will work on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and against entities and organisations that support them, as well as against Hamas. We reiterate our commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders. We will actively support and engage with international partners on concrete irreversible steps towards the two-state solution reviving a political process to this end, including through the holding of an international peace conference as soon as possible. The EU is ready to contribute to all efforts towards this solution and calls on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine its viability. The European Union will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority to help it address its most pressing needs, build institutional capacities, and implement its reform agenda. As part of the EU's long standing commitment to support Palestinians in need and in light of the latest developments in the region, the EU last week announced a new humanitarian aid package for Gaza worth €120 million. We welcome the international conference, which will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York next June.

     Finally, on the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea:

The EU reiterates its firm support for UN-led peace efforts in Yemen and urges all parties, and especially the Houthis, to show restraint, to lower tensions, and to engage constructively and meaningfully with UN Special Envoy Grundberg towards a lasting peace and the implementation of the UN roadmap.

The EU continues to support the Government of Yemen in its efforts to advance on reforms and to progress towards stability in the country.

The EU condemns the destabilising actions throughout the Middle East by Iran and its proxies, including through terrorist and armed groups. In this respect, the EU condemns the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and against Israel, as contributing to regional escalation and posing a serious threat to security, international trade, freedom of navigation, and also the environment. The EU is gravely concerned about the latest escalation. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The situation in the Red Sea remains critical, with freedom of navigation severely affected. The EU defensive maritime operation ASPIDES maintains its operational tempo to ensure freedom of navigation and the protection of commercial ships in the Red Sea. The EU also remains the key contributor to the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM), which aims to facilitate the unimpeded free-flow of commercial items.

The EU strongly condemns the detentions by Houthis of UN personnel and staff working for non-governmental organisations and diplomatic missions in Yemen and renews the urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained. The EU continues to call on the Houthis to stop attacks in the Red Sea and the MENA regions, and to return to the UN-led peace process.

Thank you.

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