EU-UN strategic partnership on peace and security

The long-standing EU-UN collaboration underscores the interdependence of peace, development, and human rights, and the need for multilateral action to uphold the international rules-based order. While contributing to security outside Europe, these efforts also enhance the safety and security of EU citizens. Partnering with the UN and supporting effective multilateralism is key for the EU’s role as an established actor in global peace and security.

The EU and the UN cooperate closely in crisis management around the world. With conflict on the rise globally, the EU and the UN strategic partnership on peace and security builds on more than two decades of collaboration in peace operations and crisis management.

The EU and UN cooperate closely on peace and security around the world. Since the first Joint Declaration on EU-UN cooperation in Crisis Management in 2003, the two organisations have progressively strengthened their strategic partnership. The EU Strategic Compass called for a reinforced EU-UN strategic partnership as a cornerstone of the EU’s approach to global security. 

Building on previous EU-UN achievements, in September 2025, the EU and the UN endorsed the new Joint Priorities on Peace and Security for 2025–2028. These priorities are structured around two clusters: field-based cooperation, and thematic and global cooperation:

Field-based cooperation

Operational cooperation in the field remains a key component of the EU-UN strategic partnership. Where EU CSDP missions and operations are deployed in the same theatre as UN peace operations, both organisations systematically strengthen coordination between the respective missions / operations in an overarching effort to contribute to peace through the protection of civilians, human rights/ humanitarian law compliance, and security sector support. 

Efforts to exchange best practices on strategic and operational planning will be undertaken. Together with the African Union, the UN and the EU will cooperate in the roll-out of Security Council Resolution 2719, which established a framework for financing of AU-led peace support operations authorised by the Security Council.

Field-based cooperation also includes child protection, prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), as well as security sector reform (SSR). Particular attention will be given to mission transitions and sustaining engagement after drawdowns, as well as operational resilience in climate-vulnerable contexts.

Thematic and global cooperation

Beyond the field cooperation, the EU and the UN will intensify their dialogue and collaboration on key peace and security areas, such as:

• Conflict prevention and mediation 

• Peacebuilding

• Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

• Youth, Peace and Security (YPS)

• Climate, peace and security

• Digital innovation and technology

• Counter-terrorism

• Non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control

The EU and UN work together on a number of different issues of global peace and security: 

Crisis management

Unique and long-standing EU-UN partnership in crisis management and civilian, police and military peacekeeping, is based on shared values and commitments. The EU and the UN have partnered up and cooperated on a number of deployments throughout the world. For example:

• In Libya, between the EU integrated border mission (EUBAM) and Operations SOPHIA and IRINI with UNSMIL counterparts.

• In Somalia, EUCAP and EUTM Somalia operated closely with UNSOM in delivering capacity-building support to Somali security forces. 

Read more about EU missions and operations

Peacekeeping and peace building

UN peacekeeping remains one of the most effective multilateral tools for preventing and mitigating armed conflict, sustaining peace, and responding to a broader range of threats to international peace and security. The EU continues to actively support these efforts, including by contributing to the review of UN Peace Operations. EU Member States contribute personnel to UN peacekeeping missions and provide a large part of the UN peacekeeping budget (23.5% in 2024). 

The EU also supports the UN´s peacebuilding agenda, including the UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review. Financially, the EU is providing predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding actions with an ongoing portfolio of more than €460 million to the UN Family (120 ongoing actions). It supports peace in all its dimensions: from climate change to counter-terrorism, fighting disinformation, mediation, preventing the proliferation and illicit trade of weapons or transitional justice, amongst others. 

EU Member States are the biggest contributors to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, having contributed more than 60% since the Fund’s inception in 2006. 

Read more about EU’s work on Conflict prevention, peace building and mediation

Missions and operations

The EU and UN cooperate and coordinate in crisis and post-conflict situations where both are actively engaged. In 2020, the EU and the UN signed the Framework Agreement on Provision of Mutual Support in the context of their respective missions and operations in the field. It aims to facilitate concrete cooperation between EU and UN missions and operations in the area of logistic, medical and security support.

Read more about EU missions and operations