EU Statement – High-level Multi-stakeholder Informal Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance

EU Statement - High-level Multi-stakeholder Informal Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance

25 September 2025, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by H.E. Ms. Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Latvia at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week: High-level Multi-stakeholder Informal Meeting to Launch the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance

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Madam President, Mister Secretary-General, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished guests, all protocol observed,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Thank you Madam President for gathering us today, as we mark a milestone in international cooperation on Artificial intelligence governance. And thank you Mister Secretary General for providing an update on the way forward.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of Spain and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica for their countries' leadership in steering the process which brought us here today, and to commend the work of their respective Permanent Representatives and experts.

The EU welcomes the launch of the first Global Dialogue on AI governance, as well as the decision to establish an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. By doing so, we are delivering on our promise to take action to promote scientific understanding of AI, and to ensure inclusive multi-stakeholder discussion on AI at the UN.

We are, collectively, demonstrating that the UN is an appropriate forum to address the global impact of emerging technologies, particularly on human rights, peace and security, and sustainable development. The importance of developing a human-centric and human rights based approach to AI governance thus cannot be overstated.

We therefore look forward to the convening of the First Global Dialogue next year in Geneva on the margins of the AI4Good summit, as a multi-stakeholder space to allow tailored exchanges that will help us make progress on AI governance year after year, building on the expertise and knowledge of all stakeholders. We salute the work done by the ITU to bring this often complex issue to a broad and inclusive audience.

As the Secretary-General has just announced the launch of the selection process for the Panel members, let me also highlight that the added value of the Panel lies in its multi-disciplinarity.

Panel members should come from the broad range of disciplines required to survey the state of AI across a wide array of technical, societal, social, legal, ethical, cultural and economic factors. It should of course include AI experts, but it is important also to include those who can give us the comprehensive understanding of the opportunities, risks and impacts of AI on humanity. This means for example experts from the arts, social sciences, philosophy and the law.

Moving forward, we expect the broad involvement of all relevant UN entities in the efforts on global AI governance, to ensure coherence and prevent duplication of efforts - be it by supporting the SG in his recommendation of members for the Panel, the organisation of the Dialogues, and the overall secretarial support to those mechanisms. There is a lot of in-house expertise to draw from within the UN system, as well as outside, to promote integrated approaches and resource efficiency.

As the Panel and the Dialogue will contribute to building the UN membership's capacity on AI by fostering shared knowledge, common understanding, and pooled experiences, the EU is eager to continue sharing its own experience in understanding and governing AI, through the AI Act and policy measures, as well as supporting research, innovation, deployment and capacity-building.

As we shape the future of AI, we must do so with a clear commitment to a human-centric vision, grounded in fundamental freedoms and human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law.

Excellencies,

The EU looks forward to seeing the Panel and Dialogue up and running, and is confident they will quickly become valuable tools to continue advancing AI discussions globally.

Thank you.