Trilateral meeting of AU, EU, UN reiterates support for multilateralism

Leaders of the AU, EU, and UN reaffirmed support for multilateralism at a trilateral meeting, addressing peace in Africa, debt reforms, and climate commitments ahead of COP30, while pledging stronger cooperation.

United Nations: Leaders of the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN) met at UN Headquarters in New York, reiterating support for multilateralism as the most effective way to address today’s challenges.

The meeting was attended by Chairperson of the AU Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, President of the European Council Antonio Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on the margins of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, along with senior officials from the three organizations, Xinhua news agency reported.

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In a joint communique, the three organizations reiterated support for multilateralism, condemned rising violations of international law, humanitarian law, and human rights law, and stressed the importance of adherence to the UN Charter.

They discussed peace efforts in Africa, including the need to end the war in Sudan, measures to counter terrorist armed groups, and strategies to promote reconciliation and development in the Sahel. The three organizations also affirmed support for the UN roadmap to revive the political process in Libya.

They expressed support for ongoing international and regional peace initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaffirmed backing for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, and exchanged views on reviews of peace operations aimed at more efficiently addressing emerging challenges in Africa and beyond.

The three organizations called for continued efforts to operationalize UN Security Council Resolution 2719 on predictable financing of AU-led peace support operations on a case-by-case basis. They reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing durable peace and achieving sustainable development in Africa, and underscored the importance of implementing the Sevilla Commitment to scale up financing for development, catalyze investments, and address debt challenges facing developing countries.

They called for progress on tackling unsustainable debt levels and reforming Multilateral Development Banks within the G20 under South Africa’s presidency. They also voiced concern over climate-induced disruptions disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, urging ambitious commitments at COP30, scheduled from November 10 to 21 in Brazil.

The three organizations agreed to reconvene in 2026, on the margins of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, according to the communique.