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Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellences,

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

The Candidate Countries Türkiye,North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The European Union thanks the Secretary-General for his report. We also want to acknowledge the essential role of UN Women in leading in the implementation of the WPS Agenda.] Their expertise and presence on the ground are indispensable for advancing women’s participation, protecting civic space, and keeping the WPS agenda a UN priority.

One year ago, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, which, inter alia, calls for accelerated implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. And this year, we commemorate its 25th anniversary. As wars and crises multiply - from the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to protracted and emerging conflicts elsewhere, this agenda is more indispensable than ever: to prevent and end conflicts, to sustain peace, and to ensure justice. 

That is why the EU considers WPS as central to its external action, including as integral part of the EU Commission’s 3rd Gender Action Plan. Like the latter, we have extended the EU WPS Action Plan to 2027, aligning it with broader financing cycles so we can deliver better on our promises. We have also joined the UN Secretary-General’s Common Pledge to increase Women’s participation in Peace Processes.

We are embedding WPS into every strand of our Common Security and Defence Policy. We have also placed it among the commitments of the eight security and defence partnerships established with third countries.

On the ground, we support National Action Plans on WPS in both Chad and Colombia, with €6 million and nearly €10 million respectively. In Colombia, this also funds gender‑responsive peace agreement measures. In several countries, EU programs put victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the centre of peacebuilding. We look forward to continuing our collaborations on these programs and welcome the opportunity to work with other countries on similar initiatives.

Supporting women’s rights organisations and women’s networks, both internationally and locally, is a core priority for us, as we recognise their fundamental role. Heeding calls by the UN, the EU has more than tripled its support during the past three years, from 56 million to 169 million euro. 

At the same time, we cannot overlook the significance of the digital space, which often becomes the last avenue for women to voice their concerns and organize. Improving sex-disaggregated data collection on women’s and girls’ access to safe information spaces is crucial to strengthen efforts to counter disinformation campaigns designed to undermine WPS principles.

Excellences, the WPS agenda is among the key tools to prevent wars and violent conflicts before they start, to end those that rage, to build peace that lasts, and to secure justice for victims and survivors. The EU will continue to advance this agenda, in partnership with the United Nations, Member States, and civil society - financially and politically. Full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in these efforts and processes can contribute in crucial and lasting way to the cause of peace itself.

I thank you.

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