EU Statement ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment General Debate

EU Statement -- ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment General Debate

17 June 2026, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by Mr. Theo Pittakis, Counsellor, Republic of Cyprus, at the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment General Debate

Chair, Excellencies, Colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* as well as Armenia, Monaco, align themselves with this statement.

Let me begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to Spain for its leadership in chairing this year's ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment.

Chair,

We are at a defining moment for the global humanitarian system that is under severe pressure. Amidst polarizing geopolitics, humanitarians under attack, and fall-out from reductions and shifting dynamics in funding, our goals remain straightforward: (i) to save the lives of millions of people worldwide who depend on aid, (ii) to uphold their human dignity and ensure their protection, and (iii) to respect and ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law and for fundamental humanitarian principles, everywhere.

Today, 239 million people worldwide need humanitarian assistance, compared with 31 million in 2006, in Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among many others. The most vulnerable - women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons-are disproportionally affected and continue to bear the brunt of these crises. Humanitarian workers, as well as medical personnel are increasingly and often deliberately targeted. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water systems are increasingly targeted, resulting in significant casualties and suffering, amplified by the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Armed conflict, price shocks, and climate factors have pushed millions of people into dangerous levels of food insecurity, malnutrition and famine risk.

Against this stark reality, the European Union and its Member States remain fully committed to strengthening the UN coordinated global humanitarian system and making it more effective, coherent and flexible amidst cutbacks. The scale and complexity of todays' humanitarian challenges demand effective multilateral responses, greater global solidarity, enhanced promotion of prevention, and smarter mobilisation and efficient allocation of resources. This requires visionary humanitarian leadership at all levels, unwavering political commitment of Member States, and equitable strategic and operational partnerships between local, national, and international actors. Such leadership must prioritize inclusivity, innovation, and accountability to meet evolving challenges effectively.

The European Union and its Member States have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to shoulder their share of responsibility. We remain the leading humanitarian donor globally: in 2025 Team Europe provided roughly 34% of humanitarian funding to support principled humanitarian assistance worldwide. The European Commission's 2026 humanitarian budget started with an initial allocation of €1.9 billion for this year. We also recognize the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps and commit to exploring new avenues for resource mobilization, including with emerging economies, the private sector, and international financial institutions.

In view of this, the European Commission together with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has recently adopted a Joint Communication on Humanitarian Aid, setting out a clear, action-oriented vision to strengthen our response. It reflects our commitment to safeguarding humanitarian principles, maximising the impact of our funding in armed conflicts, situations of fragility, and humanitarian emergencies, as well as working more effectively with all stakeholders. Our approach is built on three pillars: Protect, Perform, and Partner.

First, "Protect". Respect for IHL is non-negotiable. The EU condemns all violations of IHL, which includes attacks on civilians, including aid workers, and critical civilian infrastructure. The EU is taking concrete steps to strengthen compliance with IHL, ensure accountability for violations, intensify our humanitarian diplomacy, defend the safety of humanitarian workers through strengthened legal frameworks and operational safeguards, and support independent investigations into violations, including through the International Criminal Court.

Second, "Perform" by aligning reform with the needs of the most vulnerable. The EU continues to support the Humanitarian Reset and the UN80 initiative to strengthen the humanitarian system's efficiency, accountability, and impact, while safeguarding the principled nature of the response. We must ensure that protection, gender equality, and inclusion remain at the core of our efforts. The EU is also committed to reforming humanitarian supply chains from procurement to last-mile delivery - to reduce costs, avoid duplication, and reach more people, faster.

Third, "Partnership": delivering on commitments through stronger collaboration. The EU is deepening its engagement with a broader range of stakeholders and partners - local responders, the private sector, IFIs and philanthropic actors. In fragile contexts, we need better cooperation so that short-term relief and long-term resilience go hand in hand. Local and national actors should be empowered and have the resources and decision-making power to lead responses. This also means ensuring that women, children, persons with disabilities, and other groups in vulnerable situations are not just beneficiaries of aid, but active participants in designing and delivering it. The EU remains committed to strengthen its strategic, impactful and effective approaches that prioritise prevention and resilience, and ensure sustainable solutions through broad partnerships.

Chair,

In conclusion, the ongoing humanitarian reset and related UN80 reform offers a critical opportunity to make the UN-coordinated humanitarian system more agile, accountable, and fit for purpose. But reform must also ensure that no one is left behind.

Thank you.

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