Conceived as a project of peace in the wake of the Second World War, the European Union today remains one of the United Nations' staunchest and most important regional partners, senior officials from both organizations told the Security Council today, even some delegates sparred over the bloc's influence in an increasingly multipolar and unstable world.
"The European Union's founding treaties underscore the commitment to multilateral solutions, particularly in the framework of the United Nations," said Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, as he briefed the 15-member Council.
Noting that the UN continues to work closely with regional and subregional organizations in an "increasingly complex and uncertain" world, he said dialogue, trust-building and respect for international law are critical. The European Union is highly active on these fronts, from international peace and security to human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian action.
Across the globe, the UN and the European Union coordinate in support of inclusive political processes. Citing strong cooperation in the Western Balkans, the South Caucuses, Africa and elsewhere, he described the war in Ukraine as a "severe test" for the international order, warning: "The Russian invasion has shaken the foundations of the European security architecture to its core." An immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire is urgently needed as a first step towards a lasting peace based on UN Charter principles.
Crises in Europe, Middle East Signal Abandonment of 'Old Rules'
"Today, we are witnessing the gravest breakdown of international law since the end of [the Second World War]," agreed Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. "This is why the [European Union's] support for the UN now is more vital than ever."
The bloc and its member States finance a quarter of the UN's Regular Budget, paying its dues in full and on time, she pointed out. However, the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East are causing ripple effects across the world and raising questions about the UN's ability to prevent the unravelling of the post-World War order.
While Moscow carries out "what is arguably among the most outrageous breaches of international law in United Nations history", she said the conflict in the Middle East is no longer regional or simply about security in the region. From Asia to South America, energy prices are spiking and farmers face fertilizer shortages. The Russian Federation is supporting Iran with intelligence and drones against another Council member, "holding the world economy hostage", she added.
"Together, the crises in Europe and the Middle East represent the clearest sign yet of an abandonment of the old rules, including the UN Charter," she said. "A new world is now in the making, characterized by competition and coercive power politics."
Asking what historians will say about the UN's response when the rules-based order was under threat, she said: "Did we cling to the past, defending a system that no longer worked for the many? Or did we have the courage to reform it - to make it stronger, fairer and more resilient?" In Europe's view, the UN has the ability to change, and change is needed.
A 'Committed Partner' in Upholding International Law, Maritime Security
Council members also took the floor to express their views, with many agreeing that international relations are facing their most challenging test in the decades since the UN's founding. Some cited specific European Union-UN initiatives that are yielding fruit in such areas as humanitarian aid delivery, political mediation and maritime security.
"In the modern world, crises do not stay local," said Denmark's representative. Describing the UN and the European Union as "natural partners", she joined other speakers in voicing concern over rising energy costs, worsening food insecurity because, disrupted supply chains and massive human displacement due to conflict. "In such a world, international law - including the UN Charter - needs strong advocates. The UN will find no more committed partner than the EU."
"Effective multilateralism is not a choice - it is an imperative," said Greece's representative, echoing those points. He noted that maritime security and freedom of navigation are increasingly at risk, pointing out that European naval forces, including Operation IRINI, make tangible contributions to protecting global trade.
The representative of Bahrain, Council President for April, spoke in his national capacity to thank the European Union for supporting resolution 2817 (2026) - spearheaded by his delegation - which strongly condemned the "unjust Iranian aggression" against countries of the Gulf region. In addition, he welcomed the bloc's active role in protecting the security of navigation in the Red Sea and combating violations of the arms embargo on Libya.
Somalia's representative said complementarity between the UN and regional arrangements "strengthens our collective ability to address conflict and respond to emerging transnational threats". He welcomed the European Union's focus on the security-development nexus, "which aligns with continental priorities to create a transformative impact and foster long-term stability across Africa", while stressing the need for national ownership and regional leadership on the continent.
The representative of Panama said European Union initiatives such as Operation Aspides in the Red Sea reflect a "tangible commitment" to maritime security and the protection of commercial shipping. He also welcomed the European Union's support for Haiti and Colombia, among other countries in the region.
Support for Development Cooperation and National Ownership
The representative of Pakistan, meanwhile, noted the disproportionate effects of growing food insecurity, freshwater scarcity, energy volatility, supply-chain fragmentation, pandemics and climate change on the Global South. He welcomed the European Union's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and reform of the international financial architecture "at a time when international development cooperation is waning".
The representatives of Colombia, Liberia, Latvia, United Kingdom and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also voiced support for the bloc's initiatives in support of the UN. The former called for that cooperation to be comprehensive in nature - tackling the root drivers of conflict, such as climate change, and prioritizing civilian protection. Those goals are particularly critical in a global landscape marked by "mounting recourse to unilateralism and protectionism", she said.
China's representative agreed, also voicing support for cooperation with regional groups in a time of turbulence and rapid change. However, he warned that countries should always "treat each other as equals", and no nation or bloc can be a "self-styled arbiter" of other countries' choices.
Several delegates voiced grave concern over the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine - now more than four years old - and the broadening conflict in the Middle East.
"This war waged in Europe directly affects our security interests," said France's representative. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as respect for the ceasefire currently in place in the Middle East, which should also include Lebanon. Praising the European Union's various initiatives, he cited the role of European peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the bloc's leading role in delivering humanitarian aid in Africa and its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in a "seriously degraded environment".
Russian Federation Rejects European Union 'Double Standards' as United States Pushes Bloc to Increase Defence Spending
Striking a different tone, the Russian Federation's delegate said the European Union has cynically tried to position itself as "peacekeeper, mediator-in-chief, defender of international law […] as well as a magnanimous benefactor for developing countries". Now, its "double standards and hypocrisy are rapidly coming to the surface", he said, citing the bloc's attempts to foment Russophobic sentiment and its provision of weapons to Ukraine. He noted its double standards on freedom of maritime navigation, elections, corruption and censorship, adding that many countries of the Global South are struggling under the weight of its coercive sanctions.
The representative of the United States also expressed concern about the European Union's sweeping activities, warning it to "focus on their foundational purposes and avoid burdensome policies that stifle free speech or innovation or infringe on national decision-making". She also called on the bloc to increase defence spending and shoulder greater responsibility for its own security.
