Opening 2027 Session, Economic and Social Council Unveils Plans for Leaner, More Substance-Oriented Interaction, Also Elects Bureau

Opening 2027 Session, Economic and Social Council Unveils Plans for Leaner, More Substance-Oriented Interaction, Also Elects Bureau

The best chapters of the Economic and Social Council are still being written, that organ heard today as Nepal handed over the presidency to Algeria and a vision of a leaner, more substance-oriented Council.

Commencing its 2027 session, the Council elected - by acclamation - Amar Bendjama (Algeria) as President; and Tofig Musayev (Azerbaijan), Salahuddin Norman Chowdhury (Bangladesh) and Juan Pablo Vegas Torres (Peru) as Vice-Presidents. The election of the Vice-President from the Western European and Other States will be held  later. 

In his first address as President, Mr. Bendjama promised an Economic and Social Council that "genuinely reflects the priorities and aspirations of all its members, with particular attention to countries in special situations". Noting that the last Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit before the 2030 deadline will be held next year, he said: "We must make full use of all tools at our disposal to put the SDGs back on track."

He outlined three mutually reinforcing priorities for his tenure - inclusivity, accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council.

The Algerian presidency will spare no effort in creating space for all relevant stakeholders, he said. His country will advocate for balanced progress across all dimensions of sustainable development, with particular focus on: eradicating poverty and enhancing access to education; reducing inequalities and advancing financing for sustainable development; advancing collective environmental protection; and promoting digital transformation in this era of rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI).

Reinforcing trust in the Council will require the political engagement of all Member States and stakeholders, contributing to the UN80 Initiative process and advancing the mandated review of subsidiary bodies. Central to these efforts is enhancing the working methods and efficiency of the organ's day-to-day operations, he acknowledged.

He proposed that the organ "move towards leaner, less formal interactions that prioritize substance over procedural routine" by leveraging informal consultations, rationalizing the meeting calendar and modernizing election and decision-making procedures. "Our presidency aims to save valuable time for delegations" and focus the Council's energy on improving implementation, he concluded.

Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), outgoing President of the Economic and Social, recalling how he ascended to the presidency of the Council 12 months ago, said: "None of us could have anticipated the year that followed." Yet, amidst the funding shrinkages and divisiveness, the Council has kept development as the lodestar guiding the UN's efforts.

"There were moments this year when agreement seemed beyond reach" and negotiations stretched late into the night and positions appeared too far apart, he recalled. "And yet, time and again, we returned to the table," and ultimately, "we found common ground", he said. The adoption of the Financing for Development Forum outcome and the Ministerial Declaration of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum are reminders that even in difficult times, consensus remains possible when people are kept at the centre.

"I have every confidence that the best chapters of this Council are still being written," he said, drawing attention to how it has remained at the heart of the UN development architecture. It is the central forum "where the world comes together to turn complexity into coherence, ambition into policy, and commitments into measurable results". By convening diverse voices and coordinating the work of the UN system, the Economic and Social Council remains "the bridge between global ambition and national implementation", he added.

Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, also addressed the Council today, praising Ambassador Thapa's leadership in championing for the most vulnerable. He welcomed the incoming bureau and expressed confidence that, under their stewardship, the Council will continue to be a "driving force" in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Several speakers, including the representatives of Bangladesh, Peru, Armenia, Poland, Spain, Dominican Republic, Canada, Paraguay, Haiti, State of Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Uruguay and Kuwait took the floor to thank the outgoing Bureau and express support for the incoming one.

They noted the "winds of change" that were blowing in the direction of the Council and affirmed the importance of multilateralism and reforming the international financial architecture. Peace, development and human rights are not separate goals, but three faces of the same project, they affirmed. South Africa's delegate pointed out that many of the organ's priorities for the coming year are aligned with the priorities for African countries and developing nations. The representative of the Russian Federation stressed the importance of the Council's procedures, including consensus-based decision-making.

Council Adopts Provisional Agenda, Working Arrangements for Session

Following that, the Council adopted, without a vote, its provisional agenda (document E/2027/1) and working arrangements (to be issued as document E/2027/L.1) for 2027. The President then drew lots for the seating arrangements in the chamber - Suriname was selected to take the first seat for the members of the Council at its 2027 session, with the seating of the remaining members to continue in English alphabetical order.