On 12 May 2026, the European Parliament published amendments tabled by The Left group to its draft recommendation for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The amendments seek to reorient the text away from great-power competition and towards a critique of Western-led unilateralism, particularly the use of sanctions. The proposals would impact EU foreign policy coherence and relations with key partners, including the United States and Israel.
The amendments, submitted to the report by rapporteur Andrey Kovatchev (EPP), were published as part of the parliamentary process ahead of a plenary vote. The Left group's proposals diverge sharply from the likely centrist and centre-right consensus of the original report, which had focused on Russia, China, and North Korea in the context of nuclear disarmament.
Policy orientations and trade-offs
a call for a political process ensuring the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination in Western Sahara (Amendment 60); expressions of concern over authoritarian practices in Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina (Amendment 61); condemnations of unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela and the US embargo on Cuba (Amendments 62 and 63); a rejection of nuclear arms races by any world power, diluting the original text's specific focus on Russia, China, and North Korea (Amendment 64); explicit naming of Israel as a state actor responsible for attacks on UN personnel (Amendments 65 and 66); and support for the Global Governance Initiative and democratisation of international institutions with enhanced representation of the Global South (Amendments 67 and 68).
These amendments present clear trade-offs. By broadening the nuclear disarmament language, the text risks losing specificity on the most pressing proliferation threats, potentially weakening the EU's leverage in non-proliferation diplomacy. Explicitly naming Israel and condemning US sanctions could strain transatlantic relations and EU-Israel ties, while strengthening the EU's stance on international law and self-determination. The focus on democratic backsliding in US-aligned Latin American nations may shift attention from other regions but aligns with the EU's values-based foreign policy.
Impact on stakeholders
EU foreign policy institutions would face pressure to adopt a more confrontational stance towards the US and Israel, potentially complicating coordination in multilateral forums. EU member states with strong transatlantic ties, such as Germany and the Netherlands, may resist the amendments, while those with more critical views of US sanctions, like Spain and Ireland, could support them. The European External Action Service would need to navigate these divisions in its UN diplomacy. EU producers and exporters could face uncertainty if sanctions regimes are questioned, but may benefit from reduced trade barriers if unilateral measures are lifted. Civil society groups advocating for Palestinian rights and Cuban sovereignty would welcome the amendments, while pro-Israel and pro-US groups would oppose them.
Expected institutional follow-up
The amendments will be considered by the plenary of the European Parliament, where The Left group's proposals are unlikely to pass without support from other political groups. The final recommendation will then be forwarded to the Council and the European External Action Service for use in EU diplomacy at the UN General Assembly. The Council's position, expected later this year, will likely reflect a more cautious approach, balancing the Parliament's input with member state sensitivities.
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