Chair,

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

We wish to thank you, Chair, and the Chair of the Committee of the Whole, and all office holders for so ably guiding us through each and every step of this demanding session.

The EU and its Member States remain strongly committed to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Also this year, we have actively contributed to its work. Half of the resolutions carry our fingerprint. They call for further action to protect front-line officers when dismantling clandestine laboratories, on the environmental impact of drugs, and on alternative development. We thank all sponsors for their excellent work and cooperation, resulting in the adoption of six important resolutions.

Chair,

I would like to underline that we have engaged, in good faith, in negotiations on all the resolutions. All of them enjoy broad support. We therefore regret that it was not possible for all CND members to join consensus before adoption. Maintaining the Vienna Spirit would have been our preferred option. It would have sent a strong message of international unity in these otherwise turbulent times.

The EU and its Member States will continue to promote the principles and values that underpin the UN system. As the world’s largest development donor, we remain steadfast in our support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These include SDG 5 on gender equality. We remain a reliable partner and will uphold the commitments adopted by all UN Member States, in particular in a year marking the 10^th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda.

Thank you, Chair.