The European Union expressed regret that the ninth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) was adopted without the consensus that had accompanied every previous review, while reaffirming its commitment to a human-rights-based approach and warning against the misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups. In a statement delivered on 1 July 2026 at the UN General Assembly in New York, EU Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, spoke on behalf of the EU and its member states, welcoming the adoption of the resolution but noting that the EU would have preferred a more ambitious outcome.
The statement, issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS), comes as the EU continues to prioritize counter-terrorism amid multiple geopolitical shifts and growing instability. Samson highlighted the persistent threat from Da'esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates across Afghanistan, Central Asia, Syria, Iraq, the Sahel and the wider African continent, as well as the rise of lone actors, including minors, amplified by transnational networks and online ecosystems. The EU called for a renewed collective response anchored in shared fundamental values, emphasizing that respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law remain essential to the credibility and long-term effectiveness of the GCTS. Counter-terrorism measures must be grounded in international law, including human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian law, and must never be directed against civil society, the statement said.
The EU also stressed the need to protect civil society and human rights defenders from shrinking civic space and the misuse of counter-terrorism measures to suppress dissent. It underscored the importance of full, equal and meaningful participation of women, noting that implementation of gender equality commitments remains uneven. The statement highlighted the role of victims and survivors of terrorism, whose voices must be heard and supported. On emerging technologies, the EU called for a comprehensive multi-stakeholder approach involving the private sector and civil society to address the misuse of digital platforms for spreading violent extremist content, while ensuring responsible use in line with human rights. It also flagged the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorist attacks under UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
The EU encouraged the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and all UN Global Compact entities to strengthen human rights mainstreaming and gender-responsive approaches, and to put in place robust human rights risk assessments and independent oversight. It called for better integration of UNOCT and Compact entities into resident coordinator and country team structures, aligned with broader UN peace, security and development agendas. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism and noted it is among the prime contributors to the Global Compact, devoting considerable financial resources to capacity-building partnerships. The statement thanked the co-facilitators—the Permanent Representatives of Finland and Morocco—for their efforts, and civil society for their constructive partnership throughout the review process.