EU Statement – UN Security Council: The Safety and Protection of Maritime Waterways

EU Statement - UN Security Council: The Safety and Protection of Maritime Waterways

27 April 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States by H.E. Mr. Stavros LAMBRINIDIS, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on the Safety and Protection of Waterways in the Maritime Domain

Mr. President,

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

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

Allow me to first thank Bahrain for putting this critical issue on the agenda of the Security Council, and the briefers for their insights.

Maritime security is under growing pressure worldwide. Our shared dependence on maritime routes - for global trade, energy supply, and economic and food stability - makes the security of the seas a matter of collective responsibility. Today, 80-90% of international trade is transported by sea. Any disruption has immediate and far-reaching global consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Recent developments underline the urgency of our discussions. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated how quickly instability can disrupt global shipping, affecting supply chains far beyond the region. We urge all involved to cease all military operations and fully ensure freedom of navigation as well as free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

We cannot disregard maritime tensions in other areas, including the South China Sea, as they equally hinder critical shipping routes while challenging the rules-based international order.

The European Union reaffirms its unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and international law. In particular, the EU and its Member States remain strongly committed to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which sets out the universal and unified legal framework within which all activities in oceans and seas must be carried out. Its provisions reflect customary international law and are thus binding on all States, irrespective of whether they have acceded to the Convention or not. Disputes must be resolved peacefully, in accordance with international law.

The protection of critical maritime infrastructure is an urgent priority. Recent incidents against submarine cables, including in the Baltic Sea, have highlighted their vulnerability. We must strengthen international cooperation to respond to threats and work together towards developing norms and practices to enhance the protection of this infrastructure.

The EU is deeply concerned by the risks shadow fleet vessels pose to the marine environment, critical maritime infrastructure, safe navigation, and coastal communities, while also contributing to sustaining Russia's war economy and sanctions evasion. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated international action, including ongoing work within the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Last December, the EU and Member States adopted a Declaration on making full use of the international law of the sea framework relating to threats from the "shadow fleet" and to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.

Traditional maritime threats persist. Piracy, trafficking, and transnational organised crime continue to undermine security and development, notably in regions such as the Gulf of Guinea and the northwestern Indian Ocean. The EU's engagement is comprehensive and operational. Through its naval operations in the Mediterranean (IRINI), the Red Sea (ASPIDES), and the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean (ATALANTA), as well as through Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) in the Gulf of Guinea, the EU provides a predictable and cooperative framework that enhances maritime domain awareness, information-sharing, and joint responses to threats.

We also invest significantly in capacity-building and partnerships. EU-funded maritime security projects and initiatives including the European Peace Facility (EPF) support regional maritime security architectures, improve coordination, and strengthen the operational capacities of our partners. These efforts add up to over 100 million Euro annually in Africa alone.

President,

Resolutions 2817 (2026) and 2722 (2024) demonstrate the UN Security Council's key role in reinforcing global efforts towards ensuring maritime safety and security. It is essential that the Security Council remains seized of the matter.

Thank you.

1. ^ North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.