On 6 July 2026, the European Union and its Member States voted in favour of a UN General Assembly draft resolution on sustainable and safe water, sanitation, hygiene, waste and electricity services (WASH) in health care facilities, while expressing regret that a vote was called on what is normally a consensual resolution. The explanation of vote was delivered by Shane Stephens, Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Agency Lead at the Permanent Mission of Ireland, on behalf of the EU and its Member States at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The EU welcomed the resolution's strengthened focus on the climate crisis and water crisis, which it said now receive the attention they deserve. It also underlined the importance of the reference to the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation. However, the bloc regretted that not all its proposals were included, particularly those relating to the climate-health nexus and the operationalisation of the One Health approach. On two specific issues, the EU stated it could not agree to diverge from agreed language in more recent resolutions: the reference to 'zero waste initiatives' in preambular paragraph 17, which the EU can only recognise if qualified as 'local and national', and the reference to 'traditional medicines' in preambular paragraph 19, which it can only recognise if 'evidence-based'. The EU stressed that no precedent is set on these points.
Looking ahead, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the transition to health sovereignty with country ownership at its core, as outlined in the Sevilla Commitment, emphasising that strong partnerships and international financing are essential complements to achieve sustainable financing. The resolution was adopted with the EU's support, despite its disappointment that a vote was called, which it said undermines collective efforts and the constructive spirit of consensus.