The European Union has called for greater coherence and interoperability of international standards linking natural resources, peace and security, while warning against duplicative reporting requirements, in a statement delivered on 13 July 2026 at a UN Arria-formula meeting in New York. The EU stressed that critical raw materials should become drivers of sustainable development rather than sources of conflict, and highlighted its own Conflict Minerals Regulation, in force since 2021, as a model for preventing trade in conflict minerals from funding armed groups.
The statement, delivered by the EU Delegation to the UN, builds on the EU's broader strategy on critical raw materials and its Global Gateway investments, such as the Lobito Corridor. The EU argued that any future international framework should build on existing instruments like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Water Convention, avoiding competing due diligence requirements. The EU also reaffirmed its support for the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds, noting it has funded around €10 million in projects to reinforce governance in the diamond sector, including in the Mano River Union and the Central African Republic. The EU has been among the most active supporters of reforming the Kimberley Process to broaden the definition of conflict diamonds, aiming to keep the certification scheme relevant amid evolving conflicts.
The statement also endorsed the UN Panel's report on 'resourcing the energy transition' and its Principle 7, which calls for multilateral cooperation to promote peace and security. The EU expressed support for the UN Security Council's focus on the issue and looked forward to an open debate scheduled for the following week.