Special Representatives of the Secretary-General are on occasion invited to brief the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, as well as its preparatory bodies (for example the Political and Security Committee). This enables the EU to better coordinate its foreign policy with decision-making in the Security Council, which holds the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Building on previous EU-UN achievements, in September 2025, the EU and the UN endorsed new Joint Priorities on Peace and Security for 2025–2028. These priorities are structured around two clusters: field-based cooperation, and thematic and global cooperation:
Field-based cooperation
Operational cooperation in the field remains a key component of the EU-UN strategic partnership. Where EU CSDP missions and operations are deployed in the same theatre as UN peace operations, both organisations systematically strengthen coordination between the respective missions / operations in an overarching effort to contribute to peace through the protection of civilians, human rights/ humanitarian law compliance, and security sector support.
Efforts to exchange best practices on strategic and operational planning is regularly undertaken. Together with the African Union, the UN and the EU will cooperate in the potential roll-out of Security Council Resolution 2719, which established a framework for financing of AU-led peace support operations authorised by the Security Council.
Field-based cooperation also includes child protection, prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), as well as security sector reform (SSR). Particular attention will be given to mission transitions and sustaining engagement after drawdowns, as well as operational resilience in climate-vulnerable contexts.
Thematic and global cooperation
Beyond the field cooperation, the EU and the UN will intensify dialogue and collaboration on key peace and security thematic areas, including:
- Conflict prevention and mediation
- Peacebuilding
- Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
- Youth, Peace and Security (YPS)
- Climate, peace and security
- Digital innovation and technology
- Counter-terrorism
- Non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control.