EU@UNGA77: Multilateralism at work in times of crisis

The EU and the UN are the world's leading proponents and defenders of rules-based multilateralism. As humankind was beginning to heal from the pandemic, Russia's unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine broke up into already uncertain times. Now more than ever it is time to demonstrate solidarity to the many in need around the world and to show that multilateralism works times of crisis. Promoting effective multilateral governance and upholding the UN Charter is at the heart of the EU's priorities for the 77^thsession of the UN General Assembly.

As of today, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrellwill be in New York to participate in a range of high-level events and meetings with world leaders at opening of the 77^thUnited Nations General Assembly. The EU will also be represented by the President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, and Commissioners Jutta Urpilainen (INTPA) and Janez Lenarčič (ECHO).

During the week, High Representative Borrell will be meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, chairing the Informal EU Foreign Ministers Meeting,attending the Opening of the UN General Debate, hosting the Western Balkans Lunch, participating in the 12^thGlobal Counterterrorism Forum Ministerial Plenary, the GCC-EU Ministerial meeting, and the Transatlantic Foreign Ministers Dinner hosted by the U.S. Secretary of State. He will have also several bilateral meetings with leaders from Asia, Africa, Middle East, Southern Neighbourhood and Latin America.

EU's strategic priorities @UNGA77

Upholding the UN Charter and the rule of lawis at the heart of the EU's priorities. The world is facing yet another challenge to global peace and security in decades - Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. This adds to existing geopolitical fractures and crises, including those caused by COVID-19 and climate change. The EU will therefore take every opportunity to underline the binding character of the UN Charter in its entirety- peace and security, human rights, gender equality, human dignity, equal rights of large and small nations - and to emphasise the universality of the UN's founding principles.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine is not only damaging the rules-based international order, but is disrupting the global economy and global food security in ways that harm all countries. Addressing the global food crisis and other consequences of the Russian aggression is a key concern for all responsible members of the international community. This is why the EU is working actively with the UN's Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG). The EU and its Member States have taken multiple initiatives aiming at mitigating the severe effects of the global food crisis and will continue to engage with all partners to help alleviate the consequences, in particular to address food insecurity, malnutrition and increasing humanitarian needs. Looking to the future, the transformation of global food systems, in line with commitments from the UN Food Systems Summit, is key.

The 2030 Agenda remains the EU's roadmap, as it has been since it was agreed. In promoting sustainable development and human rights our top priority is to strengthen resilience against future shocks and to ensure a sustainable, equitable and inclusive recovery. And to empower youth. In the European Year for Youth, the EEAS has launched the #OurVoiceOurFuture campaign to raise awareness among young people on the meaning and the value of multilateralism.

Access to quality education for all carries tremendous transformative power for a sustainable, just, inclusive, more equal and resilient world. We must ensure that the Transforming Education Summit during the High-Level Week will be truly transformative in order to promote equitable access to quality education for current and future generations.

The key lesson learned from the pandemic is that we need to invest considerably in strengthening global health security and preparedness. Beyond fighting the current pandemic, the EU's ultimate goal is to advance Universal Health Coverage and build strong and resilient health systems in partner countries in line with the One Health approach.

The "triple planetary crisis" ofclimate change, biodiversity loss and pollutionconstitutes an existential threat for the people and the planet and must be tackled with the strongest sense of urgency. It is imperative that we accelerate our efforts for a resilient and just green energy transition worldwide.

The digital space is rich in opportunities, but also carries risks. Shaping the global digital agenda to make the digital transformation work for all is essential. This includes protecting the digital commons as a global public good, to achieve affordable, meaningful connectivity and digital inclusion, to close the digital divide, and to ensure respect and protection of human rights online - as we do offline.

The EU will also seek to harness the historic opportunity provided by the UN process on "Our Common Agenda" to introduce global governance reforms, so that the multilateral system - centred on the UN - is fit for tomorrow's world and delivers better on our shared global commitments. The EU will partner with all relevant actors to this end, in the spirit of a truly inclusive and networked multilateralism and towards a reformed UN 2.0. The EU will engage constructively on a New Agenda for Peace, a Global Digital Compact, and an Emergency Platform to allow for a better response to complex global crises.