Madam Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The Candidate Countries Montenegro , Serbia , Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. Let me start by expressing our support to Costa Rica for chairing so ably this year’s ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS). At a time when the scale of humanitarian crises are on the rise, and needs outpace available resources, both donors and partners – UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs – must rally together in support of principled humanitarian action, safeguard humanitarian space and push back against attempts to undermine humanitarian assistance. 

We have no choice but to act. Indiscriminate, disproportionate, and often deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are reported almost daily. 2024 was the deadliest year ever recorded for humanitarian workers, while the number of those forcibly displaced by conflict rose for the twelfth straight year. The international community is facing an exponential protection crisis, particularly for those in the most vulnerable situations: women, older people, persons with disabilities, and children. Starvation is spreading in several locations where aid is being obstructed. At the same time, disasters continue to grow in frequency and intensity, with climate change undermining livelihoods, food security, and health. 

Madam Chair, At the recent European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels held in May, the EU, the largest collective humanitarian donor, reaffirmed its commitment to the multilateral humanitarian model, and the UN’s central coordinating role in emergencies. Moreover, the EU remains a principled donor, with itsstrategic framework centred on respect for international law including IHL, the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, and the values of solidarity, equality and diversity. I would like to highlight three pillars, which we believe sustain the foundations of principled humanitarian action. First, compliance with IHL. Parties to armed conflict must protect civilians and those not directly participating in hostilities; states must respect and ensure respect for IHL in all circumstances. 

The EU welcomes the Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to IHL as a timely process for prevention, protection, and the sharing of good practices among States. Better respect for IHL requires accountability, which also helps to prevent violations. The EU will continue to support independent investigations into violations that may amount to war crimes and reiterates that decisions of international courts and tribunals, must be respected and implemented.

We also call on all states, regional organisations and the entire humanitarian community to step up efforts on humanitarian diplomacy and to use all available tools to promote compliance with IHL, humanitarian access and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. 

Second, making the humanitarian system fit for purpose. The EU fully supports the Humanitarian Reset initiative of ERC Tom Fletcher and has laid out key priorities for reform in the annex to this statement. Reform, at this time of crisis is difficult but necessary, if not overdue. This is an occasion to reduce competitiveness and overlap, address structural limitations, enhance operational efficiency and transparency, ensure genuine accountability to affected populations, and – ultimately – deliver on the objective of saving lives and alleviating human suffering. Ensuring that the Humanitarian Reset is also aligned with the Secretary General’s UN80 initiative is critical to enable a more effective UN system that supports a strong nexus approach, especially in conflict and fragile settings. We must also make the conversation on humanitarian reform inclusive and transparent. 

We encourage the UN system to seek the views of other humanitarian actors, notably NGOs, local organizations, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This is the moment to demonstrate strong collaboration and synergies, and shift decision-making and resources to those closest to crises. The voices, needs, and preferences of local partners and the people they serve must also be integrated into reform and prioritization efforts. Third, addressing the funding gap. As humanitarian needs rise to an all-time high, the global donor base remains disturbingly narrow, amidst already constrained resources. As Team Europe, the EU and its Member States have demonstrated strong commitment to continue to assume our share of responsibility. Delivering on the 2023 Council Conclusions on addressing the humanitarian funding gap remains a key priority, including that an appropriate share of ODA for humanitarian action is provided by Member States. As the financial sustainability of the multilateral humanitarian system is existentially at risk, others should follow suit. 

We call on more donors to step up their humanitarian funding, to ensure a fairer share of our global responsibility to save lives and relieve suffering. Madam Chair, This year, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. The dire consequences of polarising geopolitics underpin the enduring importance of the multilateral system, anchored in international norms. In its Conclusions of 20 March 2025, the European Council expressed its support for the UN80 initiative of Secretary General Guterres. Let me reassure you of the EU’s commitment to make the UN more agile, efficient and accountable, ensuring it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world. 

Thank you.