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Excellencies, dear Ambassadors and Co-Chairs,

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 Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

We are today discussing an integral part of the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. A clear, transparent and just selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General and other executive heads is of the utmost importance for the UN’s efficiency and legitimacy. The EU is committed to engaging actively and constructively presenting further improvements on this regard.

I would like to highlight three key EU priorities for enhancing these processes:

First, the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General and other senior executives must be guided by the principle of gender balance as we collectively committed in Actions 42 and 45 of the Pact for the Future. In 2025, we commemorate the UN’s 80^th anniversary, yet in all these years, a female Secretary-General has never once led the organization. This is a highly regrettable fact. The EU strongly urges UN member states to stay true to this commitment and actively support its implementation. We believe member states should walk the talk and consider nominating women candidates.

Second, the selection process and timeline for the Secretary-General and other executive heads must be clear, inclusive, formalized and transparent, to ease procedural burdens, allow fair competition and improve the clarity of the process for member states, candidates and civil society, as provided by Resolution 69/321. This is crucial to foster trust and accountability, allowing all stakeholders to engage with confidence. To achieve this, the adoption of the accurate selection criteria and timeline is essential. Qualified candidates should be nominated well in advance of the appointment, providing ample time for thorough evaluation and consideration. This will not only create a level playing field for all candidates to be assessed, but also contribute to a more informed and inclusive decision-making process.

Third, the EU calls for greater multi-stakeholder engagement in the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General and other executive heads, especially engagement by civil society, as stated in Action 55 of the Pact for the Future.

Lastly, we want to encourage the PGA to uphold the practice of organizing informal dialogues between candidates and Member states, with an expanded and interactive role for civil society and other stakeholders. We also invite the PGA to take a stronger and more assertive role on encouraging towards a clearer, inclusive and transparent selection process. In addition, we support Secretary-General candidates timely producing a vision statement setting out clear priorities and as stated in resolution 77/335 in paragraph 64 to disclose any funding sources they have relating to their candidature.

Excellencies, dear Ambassadors and Co-Chairs,

Let me reiterate the EU and its member states’ dedication to revitalizing the GA and enhancing the selection and appointment process of the UN Secretary-General and other executive heads. We look forward to a continuation of constructive discussions. You can count on the EU’s full support on this endeavour.

Thank you.

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