EU Statement – UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34): General Debate
Thank you, Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, align themselves with this statement.
Chair,
UN peacekeeping plays a critical role in preserving peace and security, as well as protecting civilians in some of the most challenging operational and political environments. The EU and its Member States remain steadfast supporters of UN peacekeeping. We jointly contributed over one fifth of the UN’s peacekeeping budget last year and we currently deploy almost 4,000 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, while one EU Member State is hosting a peacekeeping operation. We pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives under the UN flag.
In addition, there is excellent on-the-ground cooperation between the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy Missions and Operations and UN peace operations. The EU-UN Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security is a key strand of our cooperation, which is why we have recently reinforced this partnership by agreeing on a new set of EU-UN Joint Priorities for 2025-2028.
The EU currently deploys 21 civilian and military missions and operations of its own, some of which were established in parallel to UN missions. Two EU operations directly implement UN Security Council mandates: Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean Sea and Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina; while others act in line with Security Council resolutions, including Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea and Operation ATALANTA in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. Our missions and operations cooperate on issues from field support to information-sharing and joint political messaging, and, in the future, we envisage even closer collaboration.
Chair,
The EU will engage constructively in the upcoming C34 report negotiations with the intent to continue improving UN peacekeeping in accordance with the Pact for the Future, the Action for Peacekeeping priorities, the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and in line with mission mandates. In this regard, we welcome efforts to strengthen linkages between peacekeeping and peacebuilding across the UN system, including through the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review.
We recognize the primacy of politics in finding sustainable and effective solutions: revitalized political processes and coordinated efforts with host countries and international partners are key for the success of peacekeeping.
Chair,
We are aware of the need for adequate funding and capacities for UN peacekeeping. We reaffirm our commitment, and we call on all UN Member States to fulfil their financial obligations on time and in full. While EU Member States are major donors to the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support in terms of extra budgetary funding, we stress that posts in UN Headquarters that support UN peacekeeping operations must be adequately funded through assessed contributions. Furthermore, we cannot continue to demand more or better from UN peacekeeping missions without providing the necessary resources, including proper planning, command and control capabilities, for their implementation.
Chair,
UN peacekeeping operations are confronted with increasingly complex challenges, including the effects of climate change, mis- and disinformation and hate speech, increased presence of non-state actors like private military companies, trans-national criminal activities, eroding support from host country governments and local communities, the weaponization of new and emerging technologies, and, sometimes, a lack of adequate frameworks, training, capacities and equipment to address such situations on the ground.Managing and countering such challenges, as well as ensuring mandate implementation, demand improved integrated planning across all pillars in UN peace operations.
In this context, UN peacekeeping operations continue to play a critical role in creating conditions favourable to peace processes, de-escalating tensions, and protecting civilians, including through monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. Last year, 134 Member States renewed their commitment and support to this instrument at the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial.
In order to address evolving challenges, we must strengthen the UN’s ability and operational capacity to make peace operations more results-oriented, efficient and effective. We must also assess the impact of ongoing operations to support evidence-based decision-making, especially when adjustments or redirection are needed within existing mandates. We welcome the ongoing review on the future of all forms of UN peace operations, to which we have provided substantive input, while we underline that these processes should not adversely affect the ability of peace operations to deliver on their mandates.
We stress the need for greater synergy, coordination and cooperation among UN departments and agencies, including in transition planning. We also believe in objective performance assessments, which inform training and capabilities.
Chair,
We need solutions to improve the safety and security of UN peacekeepers, including through increased use of technology and digital tools, as well as peacekeeping intelligence. Improving UN-compliant living arrangements and installations, strengthening emergency response procedures, including those for casualty evacuation, offering sufficient medical and mental health services, and creating effective defences against improvised explosive devices and unmanned aerials systems all require special attention.
We also stress the importance of all UN peacekeepers strictly upholding codes of conduct and discipline and that the UN Secretariat, mission leadership, and TCCs and PCCs promptly investigate any allegations of misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, and harassment committed by peacekeepers, and act accordingly.
The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions. We underline the need for continued commitment by all parties to accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers. We also continue to encourage efforts to reinforce cooperation with host countries, support the investigation and prosecution of cases, and develop public information and strategic communication initiatives.
Violations and abuses of human rights continue to drive conflict. We urge the UN to ensure that UN peacekeeping personnel is appropriately selected and trained, including in mitigating civilian harm, and possesses essential sociocultural awareness and linguistic skills. Furthermore, the EU underscores the need for meaningful participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in peace processes.
Chair,
The EU recognizes that Women, Peace and Security is a top priority and a cross-cutting theme. We strongly believe that only when women are fully, equally, meaningfully, and safely involved in all aspects of peacebuilding and peacekeeping can durable peace be achieved. This includes building strategic relationships with civil society organisations and women human rights defenders to support the transformation of discriminatory structures and social norms.
Finally, the EU emphasises the importance of taking security and climate change into consideration in all aspects of UN peacekeeping. The EU encourages cooperation with regional organisations and engagement with local communities to help host states green the security sector, contributing to a positive legacy in host countries. Similarly, it is important that UN peace operations aim to reduce their own ecological footprint and increase their operational resilience by pursuing environmental management, while minimizing risks, costs, and consumption by using renewable resources.
Chair,
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Bureau and the facilitators for their excellent work and for their upcoming task. I would like to reiterate that the EU, even as the European continent itself faces grave security challenges, continues to be actively involved with the UN in all matters pertaining to peace and security. The EU reaffirms its dedication to completing the C34 process in a professional and efficient manner and with a positive outcome, particularly as we were unable to agree on a report last year. We owe this to the tens of thousands of UN peacekeepers currently deployed.
I thank you.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.