The European Union has welcomed the UN Secretary-General's proposed improvements to reporting mandates, including differentiated formats and greater use of data, while calling for more transparency on the methodology behind estimated reductions, in a statement delivered on 16 July 2026 at the UN General Assembly. Speaking on behalf of the EU and its Member States, Coordination, Press and Information Attaché Daniel Prada Jimenez de Cisneros expressed support for the overall approach outlined in the Secretary-General's note, which aims to produce more focused, user-oriented and evidence-based reports while preserving mandate integrity.
The EU endorsed specific measures such as concise update reports, standardized structures and clearer recommendations, saying these would improve accessibility for Member States without affecting the substance of existing mandates. However, the bloc pressed for further clarification on how the recommendations would feed into the work of Main Committees and other intergovernmental bodies, asking on what basis individual committees would consider them and how consistency across the system would be ensured.
In a key request, the EU called on the Secretariat to provide a comprehensive overview of existing mandates, including reporting mandates, meetings, agenda items and programme budget implications, accompanied by implementation data to strengthen transparency and accountability. The statement also sought additional detail on the analytical basis for the estimates in the Secretary-General's note, specifically the references to reductions of "less than 5 per cent" and "about 10 per cent". The EU asked for the reporting series and mandates assessed, the methodology used, and a list of reports identified for consolidation or changes in periodicity. It noted that the only concrete example provided — reports on major construction projects considered by the Fifth Committee — did not sufficiently demonstrate the type of efficiencies envisaged, and instead urged identification of genuine overlaps or duplications where consolidation could reduce burdens.
The EU reiterated its broader position that the review process should comprise two complementary strands: criteria for creating or renewing mandates, and modalities for reviewing the existing stock, both guided by clear, objective and evidence-based criteria. On the role of the Ad Hoc Working Group, the EU sees it as a coordinating and escalation mechanism, while substantive review should remain within the competent Main Committees. The statement concluded by encouraging the Secretariat to continue developing standardized reporting templates across intergovernmentally mandated reports to improve comparison across cycles and informed decision-making.