Statement on Ukraine on behalf of the EU and 26 Member States, 221st Executive Board, UNESCO

Statement on Ukraine on behalf of the EU and 26 Member States, 221st Executive Board, UNESCO

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and 26 Member States, and Albania, Georgia, Montenegro, and the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, Ukraine, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino.

The EU reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

It has been more than 3 years since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The EU reiterates its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and welcomes all efforts towards achieving such a peace.

We welcome current and ongoing efforts to end the war. The European Union is ready to play its full part in supporting the upcoming steps, together with Ukraine, the United States, and other partners.

We commend UNESCO's emergency assistance programme for Ukraine in all areas of its mandate, and thank the Secretariat and donors for mobilizing 73m USD for Ukraine. We call to continue this path of support to Ukraine and its people.

We also thank the Director General for her visit to Lviv in January this year during which she announced the launch of a project funded by the European Union entitled "Preserving Ukraine's Jewish Documentary Heritage, Honouring Collective Memory, Enhancing Knowledge and Access to Archives while Promoting Intercultural Dialogue" with a budget of 2.2 million EUR.