13.04.2026 Statement for open meeting on Cooperation between the UN and the EU

Checked Against Delivery

Thank you, Mr. President,

And let me start by thanking Assistant Secretary Khiari for his briefing.

And I would like to welcome HRVP Kallas to the chamber and thank her for her comprehensive intervention that clearly shows the depth of the EU-UN cooperation.

Mr. President,

In today’s rapidly-changing and increasingly challenging world, strong multilateral cooperation has become more essential than ever. Events over the last year have only reinforced the need for engagement between the United Nations and the European Union to bolster this shared effort.

While this Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, it does not hold a monopoly on efforts to achieve it. Regional organisations play a critical role. Denmark is proud to be a member of an organization that takes this role seriously.

Like the UN, the EU was created to end the scourge of war and to build a better future. Denmark is more convinced than ever that the EU and the UN are natural partners. The cooperation today is already strong, but there is potential to deepen this even further.

The EU fully supports the UN – both financially and politically – across all three of its main pillars. In fact, as we have heard from our High Representative, the EU and its Member States account for almost a quarter of the UN regular budget and a large share of voluntary contributions. And I am proud to say that all EU Member States had paid their 2026 assessed contribution already by the end of March. Because the EU and its Member States remain firm champions of a strong and effective UN. This extends to international law, including international humanitarian law. To human rights. To sustainable development. And to multilateral solutions to shared challenges.

The EU has repeatedly supported the core tasks of international peace and security, and we already heard a number of examples of this this morning, including by deploying numerous civilian and military missions alongside UN-led or supported missions in countries such as Libya, Iraq, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the last 12 months, approximately 4,000 EU civilian and military staff have been deployed overseas to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. Just a few days ago, we heard in this Chamber how the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue is supporting the quest for peaceful co-existence in Kosovo. And in the Sudan, the EU Envoy is working closely with the UN and regional actors to alleviate suffering and protect the humanitarian and civilian space.

Mr President,

The EU is also one of the most vocal defenders of international law. At a time when this order is under pressure, Denmark welcomes – and is proud to be part of – the EU’s unwavering support for the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity and universal human rights.

The EU’s engagement includes steadfast support for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s relentless full-scale invasion. This illegal and brutal war, now in its fifth year, has brought death, destruction, and suffering to millions of civilians on a scale not seen since the darkest chapters of European history.

In line with the principles of the UN Charter, Denmark believes every sovereign country must be able to freely shape its own future and choose its partners. We cannot accept a world where people live under constant threat that their neighbours will try to change their borders through brute force in blatant violation of the rules that underpin this very organisation.

Mr President,

This past year has shown how interconnected our world has become: conflict in the Gulf has driven up energy costs; the war in Ukraine has worsened food insecurity for the neediest; attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted supply chains; violence in the Sahel has displaced millions.

In the modern world, crises do not stay local. Their effects rather ripple across the globe, often with quite unforeseen effects. Invariable those most in need suffer the harshest consequences.

In such a world, international law including the UN Charter needs strong advocates. The UN will find no more committed partner than the EU. Denmark will work to ensure that this partnership is further bolstered. We remain steadfast in our support for the United Nations and the European Union.

I thank you.