EU Statement – 48th session of the UN Committee on Information: Informal briefing with USG of the Department of Global Communications

Chair, Madam Under-Secretary-General, distinguished colleagues,

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

We thank you for your briefing on the Department's ongoing reform efforts, activities and plans. We commend the Department's vital role in ensuring equal access to accurate, reliable and relevant information, and welcome the three reports submitted for this session. We are particularly grateful for the sustained efforts to address disinformation and hate speech, including through crisis communications and the continued implementation of the Global Principles for Information Integrity.

The Global Principles remain a vital benchmark: encouraging action to mitigate information-related risks, safeguard independent and pluralistic media, strengthen media literacy, uphold freedom of expression, and promote platform transparency and accountability. We strongly support their continued implementation and welcome the concrete steps outlined in the reports, including the issue brief "From principles to practice", the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, and capacity-building efforts delivered to media practitioners across regions.

The European Union takes note of the significant operational constraints described across all three reports. The liquidity crisis has materially affected the Department's ability to fulfil its mandates, with direct consequences for the UN's ability to reach global audiences with trusted information. We therefore support your efforts, Under-Secretary-General, to reform and modernise the Department, including through the responsible use of artificial intelligence with human oversight. Such adaptations must complement - not replace - core mandated activities. Reform must preserve and strengthen existing mandates.

The spread of disinformation and hate speech remains a growing threat to our societies, international cooperation, human rights, and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Foreign information manipulation has a profoundly destabilising impact on societies, global security, and UN operations - trends exacerbated by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The protection of journalists, especially in conflict, also remains paramount.

Multilingual dissemination must remain a priority. We note with appreciation the work of the UN information centres network, which produced and adapted materials in 157 languages during the reporting period, and encourage the Department to safeguard and further strengthen this capacity. In the context of the UN80 Initiative, and while acknowledging the need for greater efficiency across the Organization, we trust that the Department will preserve its multilingual reach and ensure that efficiency measures are not pursued at the expense of the language parity among the six UN official languages.

The European Union stands ready to work with delegations on resolutions that provide the Department with a mandate that is relevant and fit for purpose. We believe it is key to return to a consensus-based outcome.

Thank you.