Brussels - New York: Agencies - Europe and the Arabs

The leaders of the European Union, along with the rest of the world's leaders, are participating in the discussions of the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly, which begins today in New York. According to what the European institutions reported, a number of leaders in the unified bloc and its institutions will participate in the work of the session, which is being held against the backdrop of complex crises and conflicts, including the war launched by Russia against Ukraine and its global consequences, the situation in the Sahel region, as well as the ever-high humanitarian needs, and emergency situations. Climate and health crises, as well as the erosion of democracy and human rights around the world, pose challenges that no country can face alone.
The Sustainable Development Goals Summit is one of the main themes of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly, when world leaders meet on September 18 and 19 with the aim of putting the world back on track towards a greener, cleaner, safer and more just future for all.
The SDG Summit aims to adopt a forward-looking political declaration that reaffirms commitment to the key promise of the 2030 Agenda: to leave no one behind. From this standpoint, the attendees sought, over the course of two days, to agree on the best way forward.
The European Union and its Member States will focus on three main priorities at the General Assembly this year: accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening global governance, and building global partnerships to help achieve our common goals. These priorities will shape the EU's actions at the United Nations next year.
Yesterday, Sunday, Commission President von der Leyen and High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell, along with European Council President Charles Michel, participated in the European Union in a tripartite meeting with the African Union and the United Nations, and then with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. On Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 September, President von der Leyen and Commissioner Urpilainen will participate in the SDG Summit and related side events, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to getting the SDGs back on track. Vice President Chueka will participate in and co-host a number of ministerial events related to the Sustainable Development Goals and the rights of women and children.
On Tuesday 19 September, Presidents von der Leyen and Borrell will attend, together with President Michel, the opening session of the general debate of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
On Wednesday 20 September, President von der Leyen and Executive Vice President Šefčović will participate in the Climate Ambition Summit, and Commissioner Sinkevicius will represent the EU at the signing ceremony of the High Seas Treaty.
On Thursday 21 September, President Michel will deliver the statement on behalf of the European Union in the general debate, accompanied by High Representative Vice-President Borrell, and High Representative Borrell will deliver a speech on behalf of the European Union at the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting for the Future Summit.
  The European Union will host or co-host several key events on the sidelines of the General Assembly, as Borrell will host, today, Monday, a ministerial meeting on the Middle East peace process, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, Egypt and Jordan.
Commissioner Urpilainen will also chair a high-level meeting on the EU Global Portal and EU support for digital transformation.
On Tuesday, Vice President Sojka will co-host and speak at a side event on “Children as agents of change” to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and Commissioner Sinkevicius will represent the EU at the high-level Nature & People event entitled “From Ambition to Action”, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Implementing the global biodiversity framework.
On Wednesday, High Representative and Vice-President Borrell will co-chair with Egypt the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, and Vice-President Chueca will co-chair a high-level event to advocate for children in armed conflict, in cooperation with the European Union, Belgium, Malta and the United Nations.
Commissioner Lenarcic will also co-chair a ministerial pledging event on the humanitarian situation in Sudan and the region entitled “The Cost of Inaction”. Commissioner Urpilainen will co-host a high-level event on current work to eliminate AIDS and protect against future epidemics, in collaboration with Botswana, UNAIDS and the United States.
  On Thursday, Commissioner Lenarčić will co-host a high-level roundtable on accelerating climate action in fragile and vulnerable contexts, in cooperation with Belgium and the United Arab Emirates. On the same day, he will also co-chair a high-level side event on closing the humanitarian funding gap, in collaboration with Sweden and Saudi Arabia.
  EU representatives will also have a full agenda of high-level discussions and side events, as well as numerous bilateral meetings, and on Sunday, EU Vice President Chueka will represent the EU at the Generation Equality event, in addition to side events on “Ending Violence against Women and Girls” and the high-level event. UNICEF Level “Champions for Children, Children’s Rights at Heart”. of the sustainable development goals.
On Monday, Borrell will chair an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers, with Ukraine and the Sahel region at the top of the agenda. He will then participate in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting.
Commissioner Johansson will participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Synthetic Drug Threats Commissioner Johansson will attend the event organized by USAID on Anti-Corruption and the Opportunity to Accelerate Euro-Atlantic Integration between Ukraine and Moldova, and Commissioner Orbeliance will participate in the high-level event on Pandemic Preparedness, organized by the Pandemic Fund and the World Health Organization. She will then co-chair a high-level meeting of the Global Education Forum.
On Wednesday, President von der Leyen will participate in the Atlantic Council Awards Ceremony, Executive Vice President Šefčović will participate in the Global Carbon Pricing Event, organized by Canada, and High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee on Palestine, alongside Norway.
  On the same day, he will speak at a public event at New York University on Europe's role in the world, and Commissioner Johansson will participate in the fourth ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.
On Thursday, President von der Leyen will deliver a keynote address at Global Citizen Now. In the presence of Executive Vice President Šefčović, the upcoming COP28 Presidency Ministerial Consultation on the Global Assessment and Third High-Level Dialogue on Building a 1.5°C Energy Transition.
High Representative and Vice-President Borrell will deliver a statement during a meeting of the Group of Friends on Accountability in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine, and will participate in a dinner of transatlantic foreign ministers hosted by the United States. Commissioner Johansson will participate in the high-level session of the Strong Cities Network, hosted by the Mayor of New York City.