EU at UNGA75: Championing multilateralism and a strong and effective United Nations that delivers for all
The 75th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations was opened by the new President of the General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, on 15 September, with the High-level week beginning in a virtual format on Monday, 21 September. As the world’s leading proponents and defenders of a strong rules-based multilateral system, the European Union and the United Nations are natural partners working hand in hand to promote international peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. To kick-off the week, on Monday 21 September, European Council President, Charles Michel, will join world leaders in the High-level event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. On Friday 25, he will deliver the statement on behalf of the European Union during the United Nations General Debate. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will join the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, for the High-level roundtable on Climate Action on Thursday 24. President von der Leyen will also participate in the Summit on Biodiversity on September 30 and in a related event endorsing the “Leaders Pledge for Nature” on Monday 28. On October 1, she will also participate in the High-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans will participate in the New York Climate Week virtual event on ‘Business support for a stronger EU 2030 target’ organized by the Climate Leadership Group on Monday 21. On Friday 18, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell will deliver a keynote speech at the event UNited for a New Multilateralism. On Monday 21, Commissioner Janez Lenarčič will participate in the event Unlocking big change – Education: the key to a better future and, on Wednesday 23, he will co-host with Sweden the meeting on ‘Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: Averting an Outbreak of Famine’. On Friday 25, Commissioner Lenarčič will also co-host the High-level side event on the humanitarian impact of combined conflict, climate and environmental risks and will participate in the event Collective action to prevent, mitigate and respond to gender-based violence in emergencies. On Tuesday 29, he will represent the EU at the “High-Level Private Virtual Roundtable: Meeting our promises on Refugee Education during COVID-19”. On Wednesday 23, Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen will represent the EU at the SDG Business Forum. In parallel, Commissioner Kadri Simson will participate in the Climate Week virtual event on “Green Recovery from COVID-19: Perspectives From Across the Globe” on Tuesday 22. Over the past week, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell participated in the ministerial meeting of the Contact Group on Yemen on Thursday 17, reiterating the EU’s unwavering support to UN efforts in making a political breakthrough (see the joint communiqué issued). Commissioners Lenarčič and Urpilainen participated in the Food crises and COVID-19 event on Tuesday 15. Commissioner Urpilainen participated in the high-level event The future of education is here for those left furthest behind on Thursday 17. The agenda of the individual EU representatives can be found on their websites. Factsheets on the EU-UN partnership and on how the EU works at the UN are available online. See also the UN media advisory.
