The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) convened their Seventh Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism in New York on 5 February 2026

Co-Chaired by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and EEAS, in the framework of the EU–UN strategic partnership, the Dialogue offered the opportunity to exchange views on the global terrorist threat and to discuss strategic policy and coordination priorities related to their cooperation on counter terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism, as and when, conducive to terrorism.

Participants discussed current trends, developments and challenges across regions, as well as related to the misuse of new technologies by terrorist groups. The EU underlined the importance of UNOCT’s leadership and coordination mandate. The EU and UN exchanged updates on strategic policy initiatives and explored avenues for further enhancement of joint cooperation, including through the further operationalization of joint initiatives through the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and the UN Counter-Terrorism Compact. UN representatives provided  updates on the implementation of the 8th Review and preparations for the 9th Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS), with particular attention to the implementation of a Unified Results Framework (OP96) and Pillar IV mainstreaming of human rights and gender commitments, as well as  ongoing efforts to strengthen system-wide coherence, transparency and effectiveness in context of the UN80 Reform process.

In closing, the EU and the UN reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation guided by joint thematic priorities, including through regular policy, programming, and expert exchanges.

The meeting included opening remarks from the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Mr Alexandre Zouev; the Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Ms Natalia Gherman; and the Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism Ms Anna Strząska (EU). The Dialogue was co-chaired by Mr Mauro Miedico, Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and Ms Anna Strząska.

The Dialogue was also attended by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, the European Commission’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, and representatives from the EEAS, European Commission, as well as the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Other representatives of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact included CTED, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research (UNICRI).