Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari
Remarks to the Security Council on Cooperation with Regional and Subregional Organization (European Union)
New York, 13 April 2026
Mr. President,
Thank you for the invitation to brief the Council on UN-EU cooperation. I am honored to brief the Council alongside Her Excellency, Ms. Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The European Union, conceived as a project of peace, integration and cooperation in the aftermath of the Second World War, has evolved into a major economic and diplomatic actor and a strong advocate of multilateralism.
Today, it maintains a global presence through an extensive network of delegations and offices worldwide, including here in New York.
In line with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations continues to work closely with regional and subregional organizations, including those with a global reach such as the European Union.
The European Union’s founding treaties underscore the commitment to multilateral solutions, particularly in the framework of the United Nations. This commitment has been consistently reaffirmed, including most recently in March by the European Council.
In an increasingly complex and uncertain international environment, sustained engagement, dialogue and trust-building are essential. Respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations remains central to addressing shared challenges.
The European Union plays an important role in advancing these principles.
Mr. President,
The European Union is a key partner across the full spectrum of the United Nations work: from international peace and security to human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action.
We are particularly grateful for the role of European Union member states as troop- and police-contributing countries, including in challenging environments, such as Lebanon, and in intergovernmental processes, including the Peacebuilding Commission.
At a time when advancing political solutions remains difficult in many contexts, the support of the European Union to the United Nations’ good offices, mediation and political engagement is especially important.
Across a wide range of situations – whether in our efforts in Afghanistan through the Doha process; in the wider Middle East, or in our efforts in Sudan, the Great Lakes region and Libya – we continue to rely on a strong and consistent European Union engagement in support of inclusive political processes.
The coordination and complementarity guiding our efforts translate into action in various ways.
We work together in Central Asia, most recently to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
In the Western Balkans, to advance reconciliation.
And in South Caucasus, where the United Nations co-chairs the Geneva International Discussions on Georgia with the European Union and the OSCE.
Cooperation between the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union has also continued to deepen, including through regular trilateral engagement at both political and technical levels.
Building on successive AU-EU-UN summits, this partnership has helped advance more predictable and sustainable approaches to peace support operations in Africa, in line with African Union leadership and ownership.
Mr. President,
The war in Ukraine is a severe test to the international order related regional frameworks, including and especially the European Union. The Russian invasion has shaken the foundations of the European security architecture to its core.
As we enter the fifth year of this war, the human toll continues to rise. We hope that the Orthodox Easter temporary ceasefire will help pave the way towards a more durable one.
An immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire must be the first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, grounded in respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Mr. President.
Cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union is longstanding, comprehensive and operational in nature. It extends to the country level, including in some of the most challenging contexts.
This is particularly evident where EU missions are deployed alongside UN presences, including in the Central African Republic, Somalia, Kosovo, Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory and Libya.
In some cases, EU operations are directly mandated by this Council, including EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina and EUNAVFOR MED IRINI related to Libya.
Our cooperation spans key areas such as the rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform with focus on nationally owned peacebuilding priorities.
We have also strengthened joint efforts on advancing the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas.
The European Union joined the Secretary-General’s “Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes” as part of its commitment to fast-track women’s direct participation in formal peace talks.
Important frameworks – such as the 2003 Joint Declaration on Cooperation in Crisis Management and the 2020 Framework Agreement for the Provision of Mutual Support – have strengthened institutional cooperation.
More recently, the Secretariat, through the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and of Peace Operations, and the European External Action Service have agreed on joint priorities for 2025-2028.
These priorities aim to further strengthen the partnership by enhancing political and operational support for UN peace operations, advancing cooperation in peacebuilding, mediation and conflict prevention, and deepening engagement with regional actors, including the African Union.
They also provide a framework to advance shared priorities on climate, peace and security, the rule of law, protection of civilians and countering terrorism, alongside cooperation on security sector reform, disarmament and innovation.
Mr. President,
The adoption of the Pact for the Future last year reaffirmed the centrality of the United Nations and the importance of strengthened international cooperation grounded in the Charter.
Our partnership with the European Union is a clear expression of that commitment.
We look forward to continued cooperation with the European Union in advancing peace and security and improving the lives of people around the world. Thank you.
