European Union Explanation of Position – UN General Assembly: Merger of UNSSC and UNITAR

The European Union and its Member States support the UN80 Initiative and are strongly committed to its objectives.

We commend the Secretary-General for his efforts to make the United Nations more coherent, efficient and fit for purpose. Some of the benefits of this process are already becoming visible, and this progress should be recognized and encouraged. At a time when demands on the Organization continue to grow, rationalizing structures, reducing duplication and making the best possible use of available resources is essential.

The proposed merger of UNITAR and UNSSC should be seen in this broader context. It shares the same objective: strengthening the United Nations' ability to deliver, in this case in the particularly important areas of training, capacity-building and research, while preserving the respective mandates and strengths of both institutions. We therefore support the direction of travel and the ambition behind this proposal.

While we want to move forward and achieve tangible reform results in a timely manner, a process with adequate space for Member State participation is and remains key. As the work launched under the UN80 Initiative will continue in the coming months, Member States should be associated in the most appropriate and meaningful manner possible.

Chair,

The ambition of this proposed merger must be matched by the conditions necessary for successful implementation. As we move forward, we believe it is important to ensure that the short, medium and long-term strategy is clear and underpinned by adequate human, financial and logistical arrangements. This includes due consideration of the maintenance of the geographical footprint and institutional presence of the new entity. Throughout this process, several Member States have rightly recalled the important contribution made over many years by the host countries, providing infrastructure, expertise and partnerships that have benefited the wider UN membership. Recognizing and building on these longstanding partnerships is not about preserving the status quo. It is about ensuring that reform builds on existing strengths, expertise and investments, and that the new entity is placed in the best possible position to succeed, from the beginning.

You can count on the European Union and its Member States to continue engaging constructively and to contribute to the successful implementation of the merger and to advance the broader objectives of the UN80 Initiative.