European Council | UN General Assembly, New York, 18-22 September 2023

Agenda highlights

The high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly starts on 18 September 2023. The first day of the general debate will be on Tuesday, 19 September.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will address the General Assembly on behalf of the EU and will participate in a series of side events.

EU priorities at the 78th UN General Assembly

Every year, the Council adopts priorities for the UN and the UN General Assembly, which guide the EU’s work for the year to come.

The Council’s priorities for the 78th UN General Assembly (September 2023–September 2024) centre around a commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order. Taking into account multiple global crises such as Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, the situation in the Sahel and the climate emergency, the overarching priorities are:

• accelerating implementation of sustainable development goals
• strengthening global governance in line with the UN Secretary-General’s proposals on ’Our Common Agenda’
• building global partnerships

• EU priorities at the 78th United Nations General Assembly: Council approves conclusions (press release, 20 July 2023)

Climate ambition summit

On 20 September, President Michel will attend the climate ambition summit.

World leaders will discuss how to tackle climate change and accelerate the pace and scale of a just transition.

• Climate ambition summit, 20 September 2023

Bilateral meetings

In the margins of the UN General Assembly, President Michel will meet with leaders from around the world.

The EU at the UN General Assembly

The EU is committed to multilateralism, with a strong and effective UN at its core. Since 1974, the EU has been a permanent observer at the UN General Assembly.

Following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution in May 2011, the EU has had the ability to speak early among other major groups and can be represented by the EU external representatives (the President of the European Council, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and the EU delegation).

Since 2011, the President of the European Council has addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the EU. (EU at the UN General Assembly – background information)

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