LONDON

European Council President Antonio Costa delivered a sweeping defense of multilateralism at the UN on Thursday, warning that the world faced a stark choice between “a rules-based international order or a chaotic world based on unilateralism, violence and disruption.”

During his speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Costa said the European Union “is a project of peace, of reconciliation, of social justice” and vowed that it “will remain a steadfast defender of multilateralism.”

He warned that the “alternative to this international rules-based order is a chaotic and violent world, as seen in Sudan…in Gaza…in Ukraine.”

“The EU condemns terrorism in all its forms. The horrific attacks by Hamas cannot be forgotten, and we stand with Israel’s right to security,” he said, adding that “the Palestinian people have also the same right to security and to live in a viable state.”

He called a two-state solution “the only path to peace, security for both peoples, dignity for both peoples.”

Costa stressed Europe’s role as the “largest provider of humanitarian aid to Palestinians” and insisted that “we alone cannot stop this humanitarian catastrophe…We must act together and demand the unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire.”

Turning to Ukraine, he denounced Russia’s invasion as “a clear violation of sovereignty, territory, integrity…principles that bind all the members of the United Nations.”

He insisted that “our collective security is tied to Ukraine's resilience” and pledged that the EU would “continue to apply pressure on Russia to end this war” while supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and eventual EU membership.

Costa tied the EU’s global agenda to wider values.

“Human rights are the foundation of global peace and stability. Social protection, decent work, equality between women and men, and the fight against poverty are not optional. They are the guarantees of human dignity, of social stability and of lasting peace between nations.”

On technology, he warned of threats from “disinformation and the abuse of digital technology” and said the EU was “at the forefront of the first global regulatory framework in the world for Responsible AI.”

'Climate change is not fake news'

On climate, he declared: “Climate change is not fake news. It is a…scientifically proven fact that is affecting our present and our future.”

The EU, he said, is “reducing its emissions by 55% by 2030 and…achieving climate neutrality by 2050.”

Insisting that trade, not protectionism, would build resilience, Costa said: “Trade deals, not tariffs, deliver real benefits for all countries.”

He rejected the framing of the “Global South or Global North,” arguing both are plural.

Finally, invoking Europe’s post-war recovery, he said: “We know these principles work because they worked for us…The European Union is a reliable and predictable partner and stands firmly with the United Nations.”