New York City, 23 September 2024
The EU has kicked off a week of high-level meetings and events during the UN General Assembly in New York. During the weekend, Executive Vice-President Vestager, Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Urpilainen participated in the Summit of the Future’s Action Days covering topics ranging from youth, children’s rights, sustainable development, demography, gender equality and sexual reproductive health, as well as the Global Digital Compact adopted at the Summit of the Future.
On Sunday, President of the European Council Charles Michel, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, and Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, represented the EU in a trilateral meeting with the African Union and the United Nations. See the Joint Communiqué here. They then held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. High Representative Borrell co-hosted a Ministerial dinner on the Middle East with the participation of representatives from all over the world. Commissioner Kyriakides attended the annual Representation Matters reception organised by Women Political Leaders focusing on enhancing women’s participation in policymaking.
Today, President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a keynote address at the Association of Small Islands States Leaders’ Meeting, which will be live on EbS at 14:00 CEST (08:00 EST). High Representative Borrell will reiterate the EU’s support to Ukraine’s energy sector in a G7+ Foreign Ministers meeting, including the €160 million package worth of support announced by President von der Leyen last week. In the afternoon, he will chair the annual informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, with Ukraine and the Middle East region on top of the agenda. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will join a part of the meeting upon the High Representative’s invitation. Commissioner Urpilainen will represent the Commission at that meeting. Doorstep remarks will be transmitted live on EbS as of 20:45 CEST (14:45 EST). High Representative Borrell will hold a press conference at around 00:00 CEST (18:00 EST), transmitted live on EbS. In the evening, he will participate in a G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
Vice-President Šuica, together with the African Union and UNICEF, will bring leaders from governments, business and civil society at the High-Level event ‘Proven solutions for children: accelerating progress for the SDGs and beyond’, focusing on concrete, cost-effective, and evidence-backed policy solutions for every child. Vice-President Šuica will also speak at a high-level event on children and climate change organised by UNICEF and the UN Climate Change Conference COP 29. Commissioner Johansson will host the high-level side event ‘Leading the way forward: managing migration globally’ together with UNHCR, IOM and UNDOC drawing political attention. Commissioner Urpilainen will sign a Declaration on School Meal Coalition with the World Food Programme during the Global Education Forum, committing to ensure that every child receives a nutritious meal in school by 2030. Commissioner Simson will participate in the Global Renewables Summit, the first high-level public-private summit to discuss the progress, opportunities and challenges of tripling renewable energy globally by 2030. She will deliver opening remarks at the Sustainability Summit. Commissioner Hoekstra will participate in a roundtable organised by the World Economic Forum on mobilising Business for COP impact.
EU Commissioners’ speeches:
- Vice-President Suica participates in SotF Action Days high-level event “A Sustainable Future for All” and delivers remarks for panel “Sustainable development in a time of global transformation”, organized by Executive Office of the UN SG
- Vice-President Suica delivers an opening statement at SotF Action Days side event Spotlight Initiative “Accelerating Spotlight Initiative’s High-Impact Effort to End Violence against Women and Girls”