EU Statement - Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS: Potential UNDP/UNOPS merger assessment discussions

EU Statement - Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS: Potential UNDP/UNOPS merger assessment discussions

8 June 2026, New York - Statement on behalf of the European Union as a Donor at the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS on Engagement with the UN80 Initiative: Potential UNDP/UNOPS merger assessment discussions

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Excellencies, Colleagues,

I deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union as a donor.

The EU welcomes efforts to strengthen the UN development system and supports the Secretary-General's UN80 ambitions and thank you to the Administrator and Executive Director for their vision statements to make this happen. Reforms must create leaner operations, stronger country teams and better outcomes for the people on the ground. The UN80 work packages under the sustainable development pillar - including the UNDP-UNOPS merger - must be considered together as they are interconnected.

As a major donor (€1.5 billion to UNDP and €331 million to UNOPS, 2021-24), the EU greatly values its partnership with both agencies.

We would have 3 points and 3 questions:

First, the EU stands ready to support merging UNDP and UNOPS - a single entity would constitute an important signal for the broader UN80 efforts, together with the redesign of the country and regional teams, access to expertise on demand and the strengthening of resident coordinators.

Based on available information, we stand ready to explore options for an integration but the exact modalities should be based on a clear analysis of benefits, risks, and governance with the "buy in" from both agencies in the process.

Second, we emphasise the need to preserve each agency's strengths while enhancing efficiency. UNDP's strengths are its country presence, host government relations and development track record. UNOPS' strength is its effective pay-for-service model.

A merger must preserve UNDP's central development role under the 2030 Agenda while protecting UNOPS' procurement and project management expertise.

Finally, a merger should reduce transaction costs and harmonise standards without compromising effectiveness. A detailed cost-benefit analysis is needed, particularly on how to reconcile the funding models.

Excellencies, Colleagues,

As a strong supporter of UN80, the EU will continue working with partners to make the UN more responsive, accountable, and fit for purpose.

Our three questions:

1. How would a merger retain donor confidence while avoiding partner government or beneficiary confusion and how concretely can the 2 delivery models be preserved with a single entity?

2. What are the key milestones for deciding on a merger and the realistic implementation timeline and how does this align with other UN80 work packages?

3. What transitional arrangements would minimise disruption to ongoing programmes and how would the transitional costs be funded?