Concluding Second Resumed Session, Fifth Committee Approves Budget Covering Peacekeeping Missions, Service Centres, Headquarters Support Staff
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a budget of nearly 5ドル.4 billion to cover the financing needs of about a dozen peacekeeping missions, two service centres and support staff at Headquarters from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. As it wrapped up its second resumed session, the Committee sent to the General Assembly 19 resolutions and 1 decision. All but one of these texts were adopted without a vote. The exception dealt with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its financing document (document A/C.5/79/L.36/Rev.1), which the Committee approved by a recorded vote of 134 in favour, to 3 against (Argentina, Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Paraguay).
That was after the Committee rejected, also by a recorded vote, an oral amendment proposed by Israel to delete four paragraphs referring to the shelling of a UNIFIL compound in Qana, Lebanon, by the Israeli forces on 18 April 1996. The oral amendment was rejected by a vote of 5 in favour (Argentina, Canada, Paraguay, Israel, United States) to 70 against, with 53 abstentions.
Chandramouli Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller, Management Strategy, Policy, thanked the delegates for finishing the session before the end of June and recognized their power of consensus as they find common ground three times a year to approve crucial resolutions that keep the Organization running. Yet, as much as the world needs peacekeeping, the Committee needs to solve a financing problem that has been plaguing the United Nations for 80 years. "The UN staff is progressively losing confidence in the entire budget process," he said, referring to cash shortages that have led to severe spending and hiring restrictions. The United Nations needs to find a compromise that allows the Organization to function effectively, he added.
Fifth Committee Chair Egriselda Aracely González López (El Salvador) recognized the time, effort and dedication that delegates displayed in recent weeks as they worked through days, nights and weekends to achieve today’s results. She noted the Committee’s unique working methods and thanked delegates for exercising the political will to achieve results. The Committee’s work, on the eve of the Organization’s eightieth anniversary, helps establish policy and lets the Organization operate and carry out its mandates.
In closing remarks, many delegates welcomed the adoption of the peacekeeping budgets for the 2025/26 financial year and the agreement to move forward with the Strategic Heritage Plan for the UN offices in Geneva. Yet, many regretted that agreements were not reached on cross-cutting policy issues or on a mechanism to improve the Organization’s financial situation.
The representative of Egypt, speaking on behalf of the African Group, expressed concern about the Committee’s inability to agree on a cross-cutting policy resolution, as well as the lack of agreement on mission-specific policy directives. "Unfortunately, this year, the Committee has chosen to abandon its duty to provide overall guidance to missions as well as specific provisions based on their unique context and operational requirements," he said. This is an alarming regression that risks eroding the trust between host countries and the UN, he cautioned.
The United Kingdom’s delegate echoed this sentiment and said her delegation was disappointed that the Committee iron out a solution to provide predictable financing for the Organization. The representative of the United States said his delegation was pleased that the 5ドル.38 billion peacekeeping budget for 2025/26, 110ドル million less than the Secretary-General’s proposal, ensured the core functions of international peacekeeping would be met.
The representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, stressed that the outcome of the budget approval can only be meaningful if all States pay their assessed contributions in full and on time. She also noted the agreement reached to fund and maintain the full scope of the Strategic Heritage Plan in Geneva and the adoption of the report of the Board of Auditors. However, "a non-constructive approach to negotiations by some delegations hampered our ability to reach meaningful compromises, resulting in skeletal resolutions on several agenda items", she said. For the fifth consecutive year, the Committee was unable to provide any guidance on the support account, the Global Service Centre and the Regional Service Centre.
"Most disappointing was our handling of the financial situation agenda item, together with the liquidity aspects of closed peacekeeping operations," she said, adding that the proposals on the table would have contributed meaningfully to the long-term financial health of the Organization. The Fifth Committee’s strength lies in its ability to engage in dialogue collectively and constructively and reach decisions by consensus. It is essential to begin substantive engagement earlier in the session because consensus requires sufficient time and space for meaningful dialogue, she said.
Japan’s delegate agreed, stating: "Unfortunately, we were unable to give the necessary guidance to the Secretariat in tackling the liquidity crisis." The Fifth Committee must work together with the Secretariat to resolve these outstanding fiscal challenges.
The representative of Iraq, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the bloc was pleased to reach consensus on the Strategic Heritage Plan in Geneva, the Board of Auditors and peacekeeping mission budgets. Yet, it was concerning that consensus could not be achieved on a plan to address the Organization’s recurring financial problems.
As the second-largest contributor to the Organization’s budget, the representative of China said his delegation stands for the allocation of necessary resources to achieve its peacekeeping goals. He hoped the Secretariat would cherish these resources as it works to maintain peace and security. He noted that the Organization’s largest contributor remains in arrears and was the main cause of the liquidity crisis.
Action on Draft Resolutions
The Committee first approved the draft resolutions "Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors" (document A/C.5/79/L.51) and "Strategic heritage plan of the United Nations Office at Geneva" (document A/C.5/79/L.52).
The Committee then approved draft resolution I, "Support account for peacekeeping operations" (document A/C.5/79/L.50); draft resolution II, "Financing of the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda" (document A/C.5/79/L.40); and draft resolution III, Financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy" "(document A/C.5/79/L.39).
The Committee then approved the draft "Financing of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei" (document A/C.5/79/L.41).
The Committee the approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic" (document A/C.5/79/L.42).
It then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus" (document A/C.5/79/L.43).
The Committee then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo" (document A/C.5/79/L.44). It then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo" (document A/C.5/79/L.45).
The Committee then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali" (document A/C.5/79/L.38).
Turning to "Financing of United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in the Middle East", the Committee approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force" (document A/C.5/79/L.46).
It then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan" (document A/C.5/79/L.47).
The Committee then approved draft resolution "Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara" (document A/C.5/79/L.48).
Next it approved the draft resolution "Financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur" (document A/C.5/79/L.37).
It then approved the draft resolution "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 1863 (2009)" (document A/C.5/79/L.49).
The Committee then took notes of the Secretary-General contained in documents A/C.5/79/L.33 and A/C.5/79/L.34.
Finally, it approved the draft decision "Questions deferred for future consideration" (document A/C.5/79/L.53).
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* The 37th Meeting was covered in Press Release GA/12685.