EU Statement – UN Peacebuilding Commission: Ambassadorial Meeting on national efforts for prevention and peacebuilding from Mauritania

EU Statement - UN Peacebuilding Commission: Ambassadorial Meeting on national efforts for prevention and peacebuilding from Mauritania

22 January 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union by H.E. Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations at the Peacebuilding Commission Ambassadorial-Level Meeting on national efforts for prevention and peacebuilding from Mauritania

Excellencies, Chair, colleagues, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

Let me thank H.E. Minister Cheikh-Sidia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development of Mauritania, for the presentation as well as contributions from other briefers.

The depth and breadth of the work behind Mauritania's "National Strategy for Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion" deserves recognition. From the EU side, we are very pleased to have been able to support this alongside others.

Excellencies, Chair, colleagues,

The Secretary General's New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future mark substantial advancements for multilateralism, both politically and financially, advancing our collective conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts.

In addition, the recent 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review presents a crucial opportunity to translate the commitments into actions. The EU has been fully committed to contributing to these processes, whether through engagement with the peacebuilding architecture, as well as on the ground, where it matters most.

Today's presentation by Mauritania constitutes a concrete example of how national ownership can translate in the context of national prevention and peacebuilding strategies. It may serve as inspiration for others and can also provide valuable lessons.

Before concluding, allow me to emphasise that - beyond contributing to these efforts - the EU and the UN share a well-established partnership on peace and security.

Recently, the EU and UN Secretariat have developed a new set of joint priorities for the coming three-year period for our 'UN-EU Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security'.

The new priorities expand the partnership's scope and establish a new structure of relationships for both field-based cooperation during deployments, post-conflict transitions and collaboration with other partners as well as on thematic and global cooperation on peace such as conflict prevention, peace mediation, the WPS and YPS agendas and climate security, among other. This interconnects with the EU commitment and renewed support to various peacebuilding initiatives, such as the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention or the UN Stand-By Team of Senior Mediation Advisors, to mention some.

In conclusion, the EU will remain an active and engaged partner for peacebuilding and sustaining peace.

Thank you.