EU Statement UN General Assembly: Briefing by the President of the GA on priorities for the resumed part of the 80th session

EU Statement -- UN General Assembly: Briefing by the President of the GA on priorities for the resumed part of the 80th session

14 January 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by H.E. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Delegation of the European Union to the UN, at the briefing by the President of the General Assembly on her priorities for the resumed part of the 80th session.

Madam President,

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

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

We thank you for convening this meeting on your priorities, and for your principled leadership in guiding the resumed part of the 80th session of the General Assembly.

We appreciate your steadfast commitment to advancing the UN80 Initiative, and the efforts to place the United Nations on a more effective, efficient, and impactful footing, fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We also look forward to a transparent selection process and inclusive interactive dialogues with candidates for the next for a new UN Secretary-General.

The European Union strongly supports the vision of a more agile, integrated, and responsive UN, capable of delivering meaningful change in the lives of people around the world. Reform is indispensable - not as an abstract exercise, but as a practical and urgent necessity to strengthen multilateral cooperation, always uphold the UN Charter, and respond to growing global challenges.

At a moment when violations of international law, including the UN Charter, and international humanitarian law are proliferating, the General Assembly must be unequivocal: the Charter is more important and vital than ever. Born from immense human suffering, it remains one of humanity's wisest achievements. What we need today are States that uphold it, defend it, and give it meaning through action.

In the present context, we welcome your call to prioritize implementation and impact in the work of the GA. We agree that a moratorium on the routine adoption of new resolutions where existing ones have not yet been fully implemented would be a constructive and responsible step. A stronger focus on the efficient delivery of existing commitments - including in the areas of human rights and sustainable development - will strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of our work. This approach aligns with the aims of the UN80 Initiative to streamline mandates, reduce duplication where it exists, introduce sunset clauses, and enhance the UN's ability to deliver on commitments that already enjoy broad international support.

We support your resolute approach to adhering to the mandates that we, Member States, agreed upon consensually, and your clear focus on implementation. In this connection, we salute your recent decision to convene consultations with Member States on the importance of complying with the commitment undertaken on limiting to three the number of high-level meetings during UNGA81 High-Level Week, as stipulated in OP24 of resolution 79/327, on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.

The year 2026 will be decisive for the UN. Implementation of the Pact for the Future, the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, the Paris Agreement, Financing for Development outcomes, and follow up to the Peacebuilding Architecture Review, among others, must move decisively from commitment to delivery. This requires a UN that is fit for purpose, coherent, and adequately resourced. We adopted, by consensus, a 2026 UN budget calibrated to support the implementation of the UN80 Initiative, but the liquidity crisis remains a major challenge. All Member States must meet their financial obligations in full and pay their contribution on time and without conditions. EU Member States continue to do so, and we therefore call on all others to comply with this fundamental responsibility. Our reform process must aim to create a UN that is adequately funded so it can meet the expectations we place upon it.

Madam President,

delivery, coherence, and impact must remain at the heart of our collective efforts. The European Union and its Member States stand ready to work with the PGA office and all partners in support of meaningful reform, stronger accountability, and an empowered, forward-looking United Nations.

In closing, Madam President, we reaffirm our full support for your leadership. It has already been impactful in building vital spaces for joint deliberation, for building consensus, and for better tackling key UN processes and global challenges. And we stress our unwavering commitment to the principles and values of the United Nations. As we look to the future, let us continue to work together in a spirit of cooperation, consensus, and collegiality, so that the United Nations may continue to stand as a multilateral forum of solutions and a beacon of hope for the peoples it serves, today and for generations to come.

Thank you.