UNGA81 Fourth Committee
Explanation of Vote (EOV) regarding resolution “Addressing contemporary forms of colonialism”
Delivered by Ms. Lorraine Sheila Cooke, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Ireland on behalf of the European Union and its Member States
New York, 15 October 2026
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
First of all, let me stress that we remain ready to work constructively in the Fourth Committee.
However, this draft resolution introduces the notion of “contemporary forms of colonialism”, which goes beyond the mandate of the Fourth Committee. It is a clear attempt by the Russian Federation to exploit politically the work of this committee, spread disinformation and justify its actions while continuing its own colonial practices and territorial expansion.
It is deeply ironic and hypocritical that this draft resolution is sponsored by a State that is attempting to subjugate a neighbouring country by military force and that itself has a history of colonization of other territories which remains wholly unaddressed, not least when such text refers to ’threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state’. The Russian Federation’s neo-imperial war of aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. It includes the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory by force, the forced abduction and transfer of Ukrainian children and their indoctrination, forced passportisation, militarization, unlawful conscription and mobilisation of residents from temporarily occupied parts of the territory of Ukraine as well as the suppression of Ukrainian language, culture and identity in occupied territories. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine threatens global food security, while Russian authorities try to exploit the citizens of third States by making them fight in Moscow’s territorial conquest. The General Assembly has repeatedly and overwhelmingly condemned this conduct.
Furthermore, the draft resolution selectively refers to principles of the UN Charter, such as territorial integrity, non-use of force, non-intervention and sovereignty over natural resources. These are all crucially important but the draft resolution is silent on States’ human rights obligations.
The text also stretches the concept of colonialism well beyond its legal and historical meaning and blurs a well-defined scope, and it risks weakening the framework that has guided decolonization efforts for over sixty years, and to which we [as EU] are firmly committed. Operative paragraph 2 of this draft resolution instead presents a selective list of unrelated aspects as “contemporary forms of colonialism.” It brings together distinct issues under a so called new colonialism framework.
For these reasons, EU Member States will vote against this resolution.
To conclude, let me stress again that the EU and its Member States are committed to work with all partners in the Fourth Committee. Our serious concerns about this draft do not diminish that commitment.
I thank you.