Push for UN Reform
European Union Advocates for Urgent Reforms to Modernize the United Nations
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Key Points
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The United Nations is described as the “common home” of 193 nations and has helped formulate more than 100 international conventions, while providing a forum in which states of all sizes can participate in global rule-making.
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The Devex survey found that only 14% of respondents believed the U.N. represented the views of all member states, while 65% identified bureaucracy as a major barrier to the organization’s success. In addition, 78% supported merging agencies with overlapping functions, compared with 42% who favored reducing staff numbers.
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The 601-person Devex survey drew mainly on senior and executive-level respondents working in development-related fields, including economic development, project management and finance; most respondents either worked with or for the United Nations.
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European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas are scheduled to represent the bloc at the U.N. General Assembly, with Costa also co-chairing a “Partners for Multilateralism” summit alongside the leaders of Kenya and Canada.
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António Costa said international cooperation is “not an act of idealism, but a necessity and a matter of survival,” while pledging that the EU would remain a “predictable and reliable” partner to the United Nations and support its modernization.
The United Nations faces mounting pressure to reform its decision-making structure and reduce bureaucracy, as the EU and key global leaders push for a more inclusive and effective multilateral system. Devex found that while most respondents view the U.N. positively, only 5% believe its current structure suffices to meet global development goals. The organization's credibility has been battered by conflicts like Gaza, Security Council vetoes, and great-power rivalries that limit its ability to prevent or resolve crises.
European Council President António Costa, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas are heading to the U.N. General Assembly to champion multilateralism and reform. Costa is co-chairing a "Partners for Multilateralism" summit with the leaders of Kenya and Canada, underscoring broad international backing for modernizing the U.N. while preserving it as diplomacy's central stage.
Survey Shows Deep Frustration With U.N. Structure
A Devex survey of 601 development professionals revealed widespread dissatisfaction with U.N. representation and efficiency. Just 14% believed the U.N. represented the views of all member states, while 65% cited bureaucracy as a major barrier to success. Most respondents worked in or with the United Nations, giving their feedback insider credibility.
Majorities backed structural fixes. Seventy-eight percent supported merging agencies with overlapping functions, compared with 42% who favored reducing staff numbers. These findings reflect a consensus: the U.N. needs streamlining and clearer accountability, not wholesale dismantling.
Security Council Vetoes and Power Imbalances Erode Trust
Kenyan President William Ruto warned that inconsistent application of international law and unequal power within the U.N. are destroying faith in the multilateral system, Capital FM reported. The Gaza conflict exemplified these failings—permanent Security Council members blocked resolutions while the organization struggled to act. Critics point to the veto power held by five nations as a fundamental flaw preventing effective global governance.
The veto system remains a flashpoint in reform debates. While supporters argue it preserves great-power participation, opponents say it paralyzes the U.N. when permanent members have conflicting interests. Reformers want expanded Security Council membership or modified veto rules to increase legitimacy and responsiveness.
EU Positions Multilateralism as Survival, Not Idealism
Costa framed international cooperation as "not an act of idealism, but a necessity and a matter of survival." Financial Times reported that Brazil's President Lula, Kenya's Ruto, and Canada's Prime Minister co-authored the statement alongside Costa, signaling unified global backing for reinvigorating the U.N. The "Partners for Multilateralism" initiative aims to build consensus on concrete reforms before the General Assembly votes.
The EU pledged to remain a "predictable and reliable" partner to the U.N. and support its modernization. This framing shifts the debate from whether the U.N. needs reform—broadly accepted—to how fast and deep those changes should be, and whether major powers will cede authority to make it happen.
Financial Pressure Adds Urgency to Reform Talks
The U.N. faces mounting financial constraints even as global crises multiply. EU Today noted the organization is under funding pressure while demands on it continue to rise. Reform initiatives like UN80 aim to cut costs and boost efficiency, but deeper structural changes—like expanding the Security Council or streamlining overlapping agencies—require political will that remains in short supply among permanent members.
The convergence of financial strain, credibility erosion, and political will for reform creates a narrow window for change. If the "Partners for Multilateralism" summit succeeds in rallying consensus, it could accelerate modernization. If it stalls, frustration with the U.N. may drive nations to pursue alternatives outside the multilateral framework.
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