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^*, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, 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 almost one quarter of the UN’s peacekeeping budget last year and we currently deploy almost 4,000 military, police and civilian personnel to UN peace operations.

In addition, there is excellent on-the-ground cooperation between 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, and we are currently in the process of reinforcing this partnership by agreeing on a new set of EU-UN Joint Priorities on Peace and Security for 2025-2027.

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 contribute constructively in the upcoming C34 report negotiations with the intent to continue improving UN peacekeeping in accordance with the Pact for the Future. 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 value the trilateral partnership between the EU, the AU, and the UN. The EU looks forward to the implementation of resolution 2719, as we view this as a milestone and a crucial building block in the UN Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace.

We are aware of the need for adequate funding and capacities for UN peacekeeping. We reconfirm our commitment and we call on all UN Member States to fulfil their financial obligations in a timely manner. While EU Member States are primary donors to the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support in terms of extra budgetary contributions, 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 from our peacekeeping missions by expanding their mandates without providing the necessary resources for their implementation.

Chair,

UN peacekeeping operations are confronted with increasingly complex challenges, including regional threats, 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, violations of Status of Forces Agreements, including freedom of movement of the mission, the weaponization of new and emerging technologies as demonstrated also by the first attack ever last September on UN peacekeepers with an improvised armed unmanned aerial system, and, sometimes, a lack of capacities and adequate equipment to address such situations on the ground.

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.

In order to address evolving challenges, UN peacekeeping must adapt. The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in Berlin will provide a political forum to discuss the future of peacekeeping, as well as a platform for delegations to announce substantial pledges to help close capability gaps and adapt peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities.

The EU emphasizes the importance of pre-deployment training as well as the utilisation of existing mechanisms to make training available for all TCCs and PCCs, including coordination and cooperation.

We stress the need for greater synergy, coordination and cooperation among the many UN departments and agencies, including in transition planning. We believe in objective performance assessments, which support 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 all require special attention. We pay tribute to all those who have recently lost their lives under the UN flag.

We also stress the importance of all deployed 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, abuse, and harassment committed by peacekeepers, and act accordingly.

The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions. We express particularly grave concern regarding attacks in recent weeks and months against UN missions and peacekeepers by UN Member States and by armed groups supported by UN Member States. We underline the need for continued commitment by all parties on accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers. There can be no double standards when it comes to investigating attacks against peacekeepers. We also continue to encourage efforts 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 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 a 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 operations. The EU encourages cooperation with regional organisations and engagement with local communities in order to help host states green the security sector, contributing to a positive legacy in host countries. Similarly, it is important that UN peacekeeping operations aim to reduce their own ecological footprint by pursuing high standards in environmental management, while minimizing risks, costs, and consumption through the use of 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 and that the EU reaffirms its dedication to completing the C34 process in a professional and efficient manner and with a positive outcome.

I thank you.

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