Amendments tabled by the European Parliament's Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group to the draft recommendation on EU priorities for the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) directly oppose the core supranational and progressive elements of the original text, including the push for a single EU seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) and specific references to LGBTIQ+ rights. The four amendments, published on 12 May 2026 as part of the report by rapporteur Andrey Kovatchev (EPP, Bulgaria), represent the only proposed changes to the draft, setting up a clear political divide between the ESN and the other parliamentary groups that backed the original text.
The amendments target three main areas. First, they delete the objective of securing a permanent EU seat in a reformed UNSC, replacing it with language to "reaffirm France's role as the only nuclear power and the only permanent member from the European Union" and to oppose any EU seat that would replace or dilute national representation. Second, a new paragraph asserts that Member States "remain the key players" in UN diplomacy and that stronger EU coordination "must not lead to the sidelining of national voices," directly challenging the draft's push for deeper EU integration in foreign policy. Third, the amendments remove specific references to combating discrimination against the "LGBTIQ+ community" and the "UN Free & Equal campaign," reverting to a generic call to combat discrimination.
Political dynamics and stakeholder impact The amendments, tabled solely by the ESN group, contrast with the consensus of the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, Left, and ECR groups that supported the original draft. The only point of convergence is on disinformation, where the ESN amendment mirrors the original text. The proposed changes would have significant impacts on key stakeholders. For EU institutions, deleting the UNSC seat ambition would weaken the EU's long-standing goal of a unified global voice, potentially reducing its influence in multilateral forums. For France, reaffirming its national seat would protect its current privileged position but could isolate it from EU partners seeking a collective approach. For LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups, removing specific protections would be a setback, as it dilutes the EU's commitment to minority rights on the global stage. For Member States with sovereigntist leanings, the amendments would reinforce national control over foreign policy, but could fragment EU unity in UN negotiations.
Next steps The amendments will be debated in the European Parliament's plenary session ahead of the final vote on the recommendation. The Council and the European External Action Service will also consider the Parliament's input as they finalise the EU's priorities for the 81st UNGA session, scheduled for September 2026.
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