EU Statement – UN 5th Committee Second Resumed Session: Organisation of Work

EU Statement - UN 5th Committee Second Resumed Session: Organisation of Work

5 May 2025, New York - Statement on behalf of the Member States of the European Union by María REYES FERNÁNDEZ, Head of Section - Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, on 79th Session of the General Assembly Fifth Committee Second Resumed Session: Organization of work

Madame Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Member States of the European Union.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina^* as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

At the outset, allow me to pay tribute to the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and courage of all UN personnel-women and men, uniformed and civilian-who serve under the UN flag across the globe. In an increasingly uncertain and volatile world, where millions continue to suffer the consequences of conflict and instability, their work remains vital. We honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and reiterate our deep concern for the safety and security of peacekeepers in the field.

Madame Chair,

In these times of heightened geopolitical tension and persistent humanitarian crises, UN peacekeeping operations remain one of the most visible and indispensable tools at our collective disposal. It is our shared responsibility in the Fifth Committee to ensure these operations remain agile, well-supported, and prepared to meet today's challenges head-on. In doing so, we must continue to ground our work in the mandates established by the Security Council.

As the largest collective financial contributors to the United Nations, the European Union and its Member States are steadfast in their commitment to effective and impactful peacekeeping. We remain concerned about the ongoing liquidity constraints, which have serious implications-including delays in payments to troop- and police-contributing countries and the continuation of a hiring freeze. It is alarming that the cash balance of peacekeeping operations reached historically low levels during the financial year. Addressing this must be a priority, and we stand ready to engage constructively and without delay on the concrete measures to strengthen the Organization's liquidity and ensure the stability of peacekeeping operations. We urge all Member States to meet their financial obligations to UN peacekeeping-in full, on time, and without conditions, as required by the UN Charter.

We also reiterate our strong support for performance-driven, cost-effective peacekeeping. In this context, we acknowledge the indispensable role of the UN Support Account, the UN Global Service Centre, and the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe. These operational backbones ensure that peacekeeping missions can deliver, and we encourage continued efforts to enhance support structures, drawing on lessons learned and building on existing strengths. We welcome the ongoing review of the support account and look forward to discussing its conclusions and the way forward.

Beyond budgetary oversight, the Fifth Committee also has an important role in shaping the administrative and operational capacities of the Organization. Our decisions have a real impact in the field. From advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, to enhancing the safety of peacekeepers, reducing the environmental footprint of missions, promoting gender parity, safeguarding human rights, countering misinformation and corruption, and eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse-each issue demands our focused attention under the cross cutting negotiations.

We also look forward to continuing our discussions on the Strategic Heritage Plan, which remains an important component of the Organization's long-term effectiveness.

Madame Chair,

As the poet Miquel Martí i Pol wisely said, "Peace is not a sudden gust of wind, but a stone on which one must carve, day by day, the effort to attain it." "That effort requires continued resolve, dialogue, and shared responsibility-qualities this Committee must embody as we work to deliver peacekeeping budgets that match the ambition of the mandates we entrust.

Let us approach this session with renewed determination, mutual respect, and a shared sense of purpose-aiming to adopt timely, consensus-based budgets and resolutions that will allow peacekeeping to remain a pillar of hope and stability for those who need it most.

I thank you, Madame Chair.

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