UN - ECOSOC Chamber: Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative

UN - ECOSOC Chamber: Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative

New York, 28 May 2026 - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by H.E. Ambassador Hedda Samson, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations at the Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative in ECOSOC Chamber.

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Madam President, distinguished colleagues,

I deliver this statement on behalf of the EU and its member states.

Secretary-General, thank you for your latest Progress Report, which provides Member States with key insights into the state of the reform process, outlines the important next steps, and sets out key asks for support from Member States. The report sends a clear message: the time for implementation is now, and delaying action would only deepen the challenges the Organization is already facing. It clearly shows the urgency of taking action where we can.

The European Union appreciates the substantial efforts by the Secretariat to support Member States in navigating this system-wide reform, notably through proposals, reports and briefings that have been - and will continue to be - vital for an informed decision-making process, based on evidence and data, along with the recognition of the UN´s unique normative role in global affairs. A full and transparent picture of the efficiencies to be proposed also under Workstream 1 is essential to ensure that efforts to streamline structures and functions do not disproportionately affect mandate delivery across any of the UN's three pillars. Efficiency gains should strengthen the Organization's delivery capacities and be pursued in a manner consistent with existing mandates, transparency and accountability.

We agree that we are at a critical juncture in the UN80 process. As we gather here today, the need for the UN's presence and impact on the ground is greater than ever, tested as we are by our ability to respond to new challenges, from rising conflict to health crises and emerging technologies - and all in a context of funding challenges, geopolitical fragmentation, and threats to multilateralism.

Allow to me to make three observations regarding the state of progress on UN80 in line with the Progress Report:

1. Echoing the Secretary-General's call for Member States to approach resolution 80/251 as a governance tool, the EU wishes to stress the importance of Workstream 2 in relieving the burden of overlapping and duplicative mandates both on Member States and the UN. We call on all UN entities and Member States to participate in this "culture shift" that we have agreed is essential for a better functioning and delivery of the UN. The templates, criteria, and modalities to be developed by the working group are among the key deliverables of the UN80 reform. They will soon be finalized and need to be operationalized across the UN system.
2. The EU also reiterates the urgent need to strengthen coherence, results and impact, across the UN system. This is essential when it comes to shared services, technology and data. In this regard, we commend the Secretariat's efforts and progress to consolidate system-wide services to improve efficiency, quality, and delivery. As Member States, we must lead by example in supporting data governance, transparent service standards, and joint efforts to achieve greater efficiency. At the same time, reforms should be accompanied by clear accountability frameworks and measurable results, ensuring transparency, effective mandate delivery, and proper oversight of resources.
3. Making the UN Development System more impactful and efficient to achieve the SDGs is a key priority and we therefore welcome the efforts to promote country and regional arrangements in that direction - including country team reconfiguration, expertise on demand, regional reset and joint knowledge hubs. As part of that and crucially, the EU stands ready to support strengthened Resident Coordinator system, with full buy-in of the UN system and membership, so that the UN country presence is more coherent, and that RCs can deliver as empowered leaders and accountable partners We note the importance of demand-driven support and the role of Member States in providing direction for the next phase of UNCT Reconfiguration and resetting regional arrangements. We recall that these deliberation processes should also include clear cost analysis of each planned change and reflect voices on the ground, including those of civil society.

We further stress that a coherent and effective UN presence at country level requires sustained integration of human rights considerations across UN activities, in accordance with existing mandates and the UN Charter. In this regard we especially highlight and welcome the first meeting of the Human Rights Group this month which remains a vanguard priority for the EU and its member states.

Dear colleagues,

Let us remind ourselves of the unique opportunity UN80 represents to ensure the UN's lasting impact beyond 2026, for many decades to come. With the end of the General Assembly's 80^th Session rapidly approaching, we must show our ability and readiness to deliver concrete results, for the people the UN aims to serve.

We must accelerate implementation on Workstream 3 and strive to build consensus - even on the most difficult questions. At the same time, we are mindful of our responsibility to ensure that decisions are made based on evidence, so that they remain sustainable for years to come. Mandates must not be undermined. The measure of our success will be our ability to move beyond debates about big concepts and to carve pathways through compromise and dialogue, guided by the UN Charter. In the context of the planned mergers, we hope that they have been carefully considered to ensure that their impact and burden are balanced evenly across the three pillars and that they will not have negative consequences for vulnerable groups.

The UN can count on the European Union's continued support of the UN80 Initiative in a spirit of partnership and collaboration to make the UN more agile, effective and effective in rising up to the opportunities and responding to the complex multiple crises facing us today.

Thank you.