EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative (WS3)

EU Statement - UN General Assembly: Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative (WS3)

29 April 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union delivered by H.E. Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the Monthly Information Briefing on the UN80 Initiative (Workstream 3)

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Madam President, distinguished colleagues,

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

Deputy Secretary General, USGs Ryder, Fletcher and Jinhua, DSG (UNCTAD) Moreno, Mr. Wandel, thank you for your detailed and forward-looking briefings. We reaffirm our strong support to the UN80 Initiative, and we welcome today's emphasis on 3 important packages that can concretely increase the impact of the delivery of the UN system on the ground.

We also appreciate the UN80 Next Steps comprehensive guide circulated on Monday, which provides an overview of the 31 work packages.

Allow me to share a few observations on each of the three work packages we are addressing today:

First, on the Shared Platform Initiative:

• The EU supports the strengthening of cross-pillar collaboration and coordination, while protecting the mandates and principled humanitarian assistance. We look forward to an ambitious Shared Platform Initiative.
• We also strongly support focusing on coherent support to the RC/HC's work, mandates and leadership, through co-location of OCHA and the Resident Coordinator offices at country level, as well as clearer accountability.
• In addition to focusing on new structural arrangements, it is important to identify needs for internal awareness-raising on the operational modalities and mechanisms in place in the different sectors.
• The EU welcomes the efforts to seek greater operational effectiveness and synergies through this Initiative. We look forward to seeing the concrete impact in fragile settings, in reaching those in the most vulnerable situations.
• We also encourage an active and open dialogue with donors and host governments in the continued implementation of the Shared Platform Initiative.

Second, on the issue of regional reset:

• The regional reset must be assessed from a comprehensive UN80 perspective to ensure coherence, cost-efficiency and system-wide alignment with the primary purpose to strengthen country-level delivery, while also sharpening comparative advantage and reducing duplication.
• The EU supports efforts to rationalize regional presence and strengthen coordination across the three UN pillars based on functional relevance, efficiency considerations and strategic workforce deployment. This includes consolidating administrative hubs at global and regional levels to better support the UN at country-level. The regional reset must be driven by clear evidence.
• The EU sees values in retaining core normative and policy functions within established UN hubs. However, we think this should not lead to an expansion in resources of Regional Economic Commissions.
• Could you clarify how the regional reset and the country team configuration will be complementary and mutually reinforcing particularly how regional support will be aligned with Cooperation Frameworks and national priorities through Resident Coordinators?
• The EU would also welcome clarity on potential reallocations of regional structures currently under this workstream, the expected cost savings and their reinvestment in country-level delivery, as well as the proposed governance framework including timelines, decision-making arrangements and expected outcomes.

And finally, on joint knowledge hubs:

• We welcome efforts to ensure coherency and avoid duplication in the supply and delivery of critical knowledge across the UN system. The UN has much useful knowledge and institutional experience to offer, but so far it has been quite dispersed in many ways. Not only would a unified synthesis of this knowledge be much more accessible to UN entities and Member States, but it would also help to demonstrate both the breadth and the specificity of singular expertise that only this organization possesses.
• We view this reform package of thematic hubs of accumulated knowhow as complimentary and essential to the success of other important reform packages, such as expertise on demand and the reconfiguration of UN Country Teams.
• The chosen pilot hubs offer a comprehensive insight into the complex and distinct fields of UN work. We look forward to receiving more detailed information on the proposed pilot hubs and their implementation.

Dear colleagues,

We would like to reiterate that now is the time to accelerate progress under Workstream 3, ensuring that it builds on and reinforces the other workstreams, guided by a shared commitment to transparency, accountability and shared ownership.

We look forward to continued collaboration and to building on today's productive exchange.

The UN can always count on the support of the European Union and its member states to produce a meaningful, tangible and long-lasting change in the system.

Thank you.