The European Union, speaking as a donor at the UNOPS segment of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS annual session on 9 June 2026, commended UNOPS for progress on its Comprehensive Response Plan and reaffirmed its longstanding partnership with the UN to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The statement, delivered by the EU Delegation to the UN in New York, highlighted UNOPS' strengths in infrastructure, procurement, and project management, particularly in fragile and politically constrained contexts.
The EU welcomed UNOPS' contribution to the UN80 reform process, noting the Executive Director's leadership in driving work on the Development Cluster. While the EU did not address ongoing merger discussions in detail, it expressed hope that UNOPS' operational characteristics would be safeguarded in any future configuration.
The EU also welcomed UNOPS' 2025 annual report, praising strong results across all three UN pillars and regions, especially in countries in special and fragile situations. The statement highlighted strategic alignment between UNOPS operations and the EU's Global Gateway investment strategy, seeing opportunities for continued collaboration in priority sectors such as infrastructure. The EU called for further attention to cross-cutting priorities like gender mainstreaming and climate action, favouring a systemic approach during project design.
Finally, the EU thanked the Executive Director for his leadership in the Middle East, particularly regarding Gaza Early Recovery and as head of the UN Task Force on the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirmed its support for UNOPS staff and commitment to continued collaboration.