EU Statement -- General Assembly, Fifth Committee, Second Resumed Session: Improving the financial situation of the United Nations (Item 138)
Madame 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, and Bosnia and Herzegovina* as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement
At the outset, I would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy, Compliance and the Assistant-Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget and Controller, and their teams, for their comprehensive presentation on the financial situation of the United Nations.
The European Union and its Member States, as the largest financial contributor to the United Nations System, are deeply alarmed by the Organization’s financial situation. The figures before us are stark: outstanding assessments have reached a record level of 6.5 billion US dollars, nearly 76 per cent of total assessments. These are no longer abstract accounting figures. They reflect a growing disconnect between article 17 of the UN Charter, the mandates we collectively adopt, the scales of assessment that we agree upon, and the Organization’s actual financial reality. Consensus loses its meaning if agreed mandates are subsequently deprived of the resources required for their implementation.
This trajectory is unsustainable.
If left unaddressed, the liquidity crisis will continue to weaken the United Nations at a moment when the world needs it most. It constrains our collective efforts to support the ambitions of the UN80 initiative to build a more resilient and effective Organization and damages the credibility of the multilateral system itself. Liquidity shortfalls are not merely technical challenges, they disrupt mandate delivery, delay reimbursements to Member States, weaken planning capacities, and erode accountability across the system.
And yet, despite these constraints, the persons serving under the United Nations flag continue to deliver under exceptionally difficult circumstances. We pay tribute to their professionalism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the values and principles of the United Nations. We also commend the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to manage the Organization responsibly under severe financial pressure, while maintaining transparency with Member States regarding the gravity of the situation.
Madame Chair,
The root cause of this crisis remains clear and unchanged: the failure of some Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions.
The European Union and its Member States therefore reiterate, in the strongest possible terms, that the payment of assessed contributions is not optional. It is a legal obligation under the Charter of the United Nations and a shared responsibility toward the Organization and the international community it serves.
We call upon all Member States to fulfil their financial obligations in full on time, and in a predictable manner. In cases where difficulties arise, we encourage the timely communication of transparent and credible payment plans to the Secretariat in order to enhance financial predictability and support prudent budgetary management.
The European Union and its Member States firmly believe that safeguarding the strength and credibility of the United Nations requires more than political declarations, it requires financial responsibility and collective ownership.
Full payment of assessed contributions, on time and without conditions, remains a backbone of multilateral order and of the functioning of the UN. We remain committed to advancing discussions on sustainable and equitable solutions, steps and reforms to ease the liquidity crisis and uphold the core functions of the Organization. This session must serve not only to manage immediate cash shortfalls, but also to strengthen the Organization’s long-term financial resilience. We should continue exploring practical measures to mitigate the impact of late and non-payments, including improvements to cash management tools and to the methodology governing the return of credits. Advancing these discussions should remain a priority for the Committee.
At the same time, the burden of this crisis cannot continue to fall disproportionately on those Member States that consistently fulfil their obligations. Responsible contributors must not be penalized for the shortcomings of others.
Madame Chair,
The challenges facing the United Nations today are immense: response to armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, climate change, and growing threats to human rights. At such a moment, weakening the Organization through financial paralysis is neither responsible nor acceptable. Concerted efforts through the UN80 Initiative should guide our work for a more effective Organization.
The Fifth Committee carries a particular responsibility to ensure that the United Nations is equipped with the adequate resources necessary to deliver on the mandates entrusted to it by Member States.
We remain fully committed to engaging constructively, pragmatically, and in a spirit of consensus to identify lasting solutions to this crisis. EU Member States continue to demonstrate leadership through timely payments, voluntary advancement of contributions, and support for peacekeeping financing arrangements. We will continue to work toward a stronger, more transparent, and more accountable Organization.
But let us also be clear: solidarity cannot substitute responsibility.
A financially sustainable United Nations can only exist if all Member States meet their obligations fully, on time, and without conditions.
Under your leadership, Madame Chair, and with genuine collective political will, we have an opportunity to reverse the current cycle, restore predictability, and give the Organization the stability it needs to plan, deliver, and serve effectively.
To conclude, allow me to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the European Union and its Member States to the United Nations, to multilateralism, to UN 80 Initiative and to a strong and effective Organization capable of meeting the expectations of the peoples we serve.
I thank you, Madame Chair.
-
North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.