EU Statement UN General Assembly: Informal meeting of the General Committee

EU Statement -- UN General Assembly: Informal meeting of the General Committee

18 May 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States at the Informal meeting of the UNGA's General Committee.

Madam President, excellencies, colleagues,

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

Thank you for convening this informal meeting and for proposing concrete follow-up actions to our discussions of 4 March, with a view to implementing our commitments on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.

1. Mandated meetings during HLW

We take note on your compromise proposal concerning the sequencing of the high-level meetings mandated to take place during the upcoming High-Level Week. We regret that we find ourselves in a situation where the political commitments undertaken a few months ago mismatch implementation and we therefore, we must insist that, looking ahead, we collectively double down on our efforts to uphold the number agreed in resolution 79/327, which is no more than three HLM in the margins of HLW.

A more focused schedule of high-level meetings enhances political impact by avoiding the dilution of key priorities, focusing our attention, increasing meaningful participation, and promoting inclusivity, particularly for smaller delegations. It also improves efficiency. We therefore call on all delegations to keep these principles in mind moving forward, particularly when considering draft texts mandating additional high-level meetings that could exceed the threshold established by resolution 79/327. We express the conviction that the Secretariat assumes its important consultative and supporting role in ensuring that we can deliver better on this endeavour during the next sessions.

1. Time management and speaking limits

On speaking time limits, we take note of the proposal, which we understand is offered in a spirit of compromise. At the same time, we wish to recall that time discipline supports inclusivity by ensuring that all delegations -- large and small alike -- have a meaningful opportunity to engage in meetings. Time limits also improve the efficient use of our resources, reduce the burden on conference services and interpretation, help meetings conclude on schedule, and create space for more interactive formats, which often enhance the quality and impact of our exchanges.

Moreover, predictability in meeting duration contributes to orderly and transparent proceedings. In this regard, Madam President, the example you have set through the consistent and fair management of speaking time in our deliberations is commendable. Resolution 79/327, which urges delegations to limit explanations of vote, provides a useful precedent. Practical tools such as countdown clocks or flashing microphones also support speakers and facilitate compliance with time limits. Ultimately, it remains our collective responsibility to adapt our working methods to present realities and to the needs of the peoples we serve.

Thank you.