Check against delivery

Co-Chairs, distinguished representatives of the Secretariat, colleagues,

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

We welcome this interactive dialogue as a valuable opportunity to strengthen our collective efforts towards a more effective, transparent and accountable General Assembly.

We commend the Co-Chairs for their level of ambition reflected in the zero draft and thank the Secretariat in advance for its continued support to Member States and the Ad Hoc Working Group throughout this process.

The European Union remains deeply committed to the revitalization of the General Assembly as a cornerstone of a reinvigorated multilateral system. While we are still reviewing the proposals in the zero draft circulated two days ago and will engage more substantively in due course, we wish to offer the following preliminary reflections on the guiding principles:

En la sección preliminar, la Unión Europea acoge con satisfacción la reafirmación del papel central de la Asamblea General como el principal órgano deliberativo, normativo y representativo de las Naciones Unidas, tal como se reconoce en el Pacto para el Futuro. Asimismo, apoyamos la iniciativa de reforma “UN80” del Secretario General, orientada a dotar a la Organización de una mayor capacidad para ofrecer mejores resultados. Celebramos, además, la inclusión de referencias a las cláusulas de caducidad (sunset clauses) y al multilingüismo como un valor fundamental de la Organización.

En lo relativo al papel y autoridad de la Asamblea General, apoyamos firmemente el fortalecimiento del papel de la Asamblea General en el mantenimiento de la paz y la seguridad internacionales, de manera complementaria con el Consejo de Seguridad, al que la Carta confiere la responsabilidad principal en esta materia. Tomamos nota del impacto positivo de la resolución 76/262 (Iniciativa sobre el Veto) en el fortalecimiento de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas, y acogemos con beneplácito la intención de institucionalizar aún más el diálogo entre la Asamblea General y el Consejo de Seguridad. La Unión Europea también reconoce la relevancia de la resolución 377 A (V) y el valor de las Opiniones Consultivas de la Corte Internacional de Justicia.

[On the preliminary section, the EU welcomes the reaffirmation of the Assembly’s central role as the chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations, as recognized in the Pact for the Future. We also support the Secretary-General’s UN80 reform initiative for a UN fit to deliver better, and we welcome the inclusion of references to sunset clauses and multilingualism as a core value of the Organization.

On the role and authority of the General Assembly, we strongly support strengthening the GA’s role in the maintenance of international peace and security in complementarity with the Security Council to which the Charter confers a primary responsibility in this respect. We note the positive impact of resolution 76/262 (Veto Initiative) in enhancing transparency and accountability, and we welcome the intention to further institutionalize dialogue between the GA and the Security Council. The EU also acknowledges the relevance of resolution 377A(V) and the value of Advisory Opinions from the International Court of Justice.]

Pour les méthodes de travail, nous saluons les propositions visant à rationaliser l’ordre du jour de l’Assemblée, à réduire les duplications et à améliorer l’efficacité — notamment à travers un format de résolution plus concis, l’approche dite « un seul marteau » (one gavel), et un recours accru aux outils numériques. Ces mesures doivent être mises en œuvre dans le respect des principes d’inclusivité et d’accessibilité. L’Union européenne soutient le changement de nom proposé et le passage à une périodicité biennale du Groupe de travail, ainsi que l’examen quadriennal de la résolution sur la revitalisation de l’Assemblée générale. Nous accueillons également favorablement les références aux “Journées d’action” (Action Days) comme un moyen de promouvoir une participation plus large de la société civile.

Quand à la sélection et nomination du Sécretaire général, l’UE soutient le renforcement de la transparence et de l’inclusivité du processus de sélection, notamment par la clarification des modalités de présentation et de retrait des candidatures, des critères de sélection précis, la publication de déclarations de vision, et l’organisation de dialogues interactifs, y compris avec la société civile. Nous déplorons qu’en 80 ans, aucune femme n’ait occupé le poste de Secrétaire général, et réitérons notre appel aux États Membres à proposer des candidatures féminines.

Pour le renforcement du Bureau du Président de l’Assemblée générale, nous soulignons la nécessité de remédier au déséquilibre persistant entre les sexes dans la fonction de Président/e de l’Assemblée générale. Une réflexion structurée sur des mesures correctives concrètes, notamment la rotation par genre, s’impose. Nous soutenons également la mise en place d’un répertoire des pratiques et des enseignements tirés des présidences précédentes, ainsi que des procédures de passation plus solides, afin d’assurer la continuité et la mémoire institutionnelle.

[On working methods, we welcome the proposals to streamline the Assembly’s agenda, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency—including through a more concise resolution format, the “one gavel” approach, and greater use of digital tools. These steps must be implemented with due regard to inclusivity and accessibility. The EU supports the proposed renaming and biennial format of the Working Group and the quadrennial consideration of the GA revitalization resolution. We also welcome references to “Action Days” as a means to encourage broader civil society participation.

On the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, the EU supports further strengthening the transparency and inclusivity of the process, including by clarifying modalities of presentation and withdrawal of candidatures, accurate selection criteria, public vision statements and interactive dialogues, including with civil society. We regret that in 80 years no woman has held the post of Secretary-General and reiterate our call for Member States to nominate women candidates.

On strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly, we underline the need to address the persistent gender imbalance in the role of the PGA. A structured reflection on concrete corrective measures, including gender rotation, is warranted. We support the development of a repository of practices and lessons learned from previous Presidencies, as well as stronger handover procedures to ensure continuity and institutional memory.]

With these reflections in mind, we would like to kindly ask the Secretariat the following questions:

On the role and authority of the General Assembly

What is the Secretariat’s implementation plan for the digital handbook on General Assembly practices, and how frequently is it updated?

On working methods:

Since the zero draft addresses the number and length of GA resolutions, can the Secretariat provide data on the number of resolutions adopted per session, their average length, and the cost of processing each resolution?

How many high-level meetings of the General Assembly are convened each session?

As a follow-up to the voluntary pledge to limit side events adopted as Annex II of resolution 77/335, is there a consolidated list of side events convened during each session?

What steps is the Secretariat currently taking to ensure that increased reliance on digital tools promotes inclusivity, especially for smaller delegations and persons with disabilities?

Has the Secretariat begun implementing the inclusion of gender-specific language in official documentation and daily practice?

On strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly:

What are the preliminary outcomes of the assessment regarding the impact of the additional regular budget allocation to the OPGA? What further support mechanisms are being considered to enhance its institutional capacity?

Could the Secretariat provide information on the timeline and modalities for developing the repository of past Presidents’ practices and lessons learned? How could Member States be involved in this process?

Can the Secretariat elaborate on its role in the Task Force for multilingualism established by the current PGA, and on the possible ways and means to expand and reinforce the corresponding Action plan for multilingualism? 

We thank the Secretariat once again for its engagement and look forward to your responses and continued collaboration.

Thank you.