Chair, President, distinguished delegates,

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

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

We would like to begin by congratulating His Excellency Omar Hilale on his election as President of the twenty-second session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, as well as the other bureau members. 

We have 3 messages.

First, the EU reiterates the importance of collaboration among developing countries to implement the Pact for the Future, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address global challenges. We therefore welcome the convening of this session and reiterate our commitment to South-South Cooperation, as a complement to North-South and Triangular Cooperation. In a rapidly evolving international cooperation landscape, South-South and Triangular Cooperation can play a significant role in connecting different actors, fostering synergies and promoting dialogue.

Building on the GA resolution on South-South Cooperation adopted in December 2024, this week’s meetings are all the more welcome, given the upcoming conferences on financing for development, ocean, climate, landlocked developing countries, and social development, which will provide key fora to showcase South-South and Triangular Cooperation as key enablers of the three dimensions of sustainable development. Our discussions will also provide valuable input into the upcoming work of the newly established Expert Group on Beyond GDP, which will play a key role in establishing new standard measures of progress as envisioned in the Pact for the Future.

Second, this session provides an opportunity to hear from South-South and Triangular providers and beneficiaries, recalling in this regard the UN Conceptual Framework to Measure South-South Cooperation, as well as the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) platform. Through the Team Europe approach, the EU supports and promotes the TOSSD framework, which facilitates comprehensive data collection and effective monitoring of progress towards the implementation of the SDGs. We would also be interested to support the institutionalisation of Triangular Cooperation to reduce overhead costs and maximise its integration into development frameworks, and notably as part of the Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy for sustainable investments.

The EU's flagship programme for Triangular Cooperation, ADELANTE, demonstrates the EU’s commitment to promoting horizontal, flexible, and innovative modalities of cooperation. Launched in 2015, ADELANTE fosters collaboration between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). During its first phase (2016-2020), the programme co-financed eight triangular projects involving 93 organisations from 22 European and LAC countries, addressing challenges such as improving education systems and creating job opportunities. In 2021, building on lessons learned, the EU launched ADELANTE 2 (2021–2027), which focuses on operational, analytical and institutional support to advance Triangular Cooperation. By leveraging the collective knowledge, experience, and resources of diverse partners, ADELANTE addresses development challenges and contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Finally and on this note, the EU is committed to advancing Triangular Cooperation across various fora, including in the context of digital transformation. Eight months after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact, and amid a growing number of initiatives highlighting the transformative role of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), we look forward to the upcoming thematic discussion as a timely opportunity to pursue the discussions of the STI Forum and reaffirm and further explore the vital role of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) to advance digital transformation, anchored in a human-centric and human rights-based approach, and close all digital divides. 

In our commitment to Triangular Cooperation, and in particular to promote global health, the EU recognizes the critical role of capacity-building and technology transfer that is voluntary and on mutually agreed terms. We also emphasize the importance of the active engagement of all relevant stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, private sector, academia, and international institutions, to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of South-South and Triangular Cooperation. In this context, we welcome the continued collaboration among the EU, G20, United Nations and OECD and value the constructive dialogue and knowledge exchange fostered through such key initiatives as the forthcoming 9^th International Meeting on Triangular Cooperation, to be held in Lisbon, in October 2025, which will focus on engaging the private sector and philanthropy in the implementation of the FfD4 outcome.

In conclusion, the EU reaffirms its commitment to promoting collaboration among developing countries with the support of development partners to work towards a sustainable and inclusive future for all, leaving no one behind.

Thank you.

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