Introductory speech for the KU Leuven conference – by Veronika Hunt Safrankova, Head of the UN Environment Programme Brussels Office, as UN representative for the UN in Brussels.
Goedemiddag, geachte leden van de universiteit, gewaardeerde gasten, collega’s en vrienden,
Het is een voorrecht om hier vandaag in Leuven te mogen zijn om deze historische mijlpaal te vieren: de tachtigste verjaardag van de Verenigde Naties.
First, let me thank Professor Jan Wouters and KU Leuven for organizing this important conference. Jan, if the title of ‘honorary citizen’ of the United Nations existed, you would have received it a long time ago. Thank you for being such a strong friend of ours.
Today’s dialogue is of particular importance because it allows us to look back at what the UN has accomplished and, more importantly, to look ahead at how we can strengthen multilateralism in a turbulent world.
Eighty years ago, in the aftermath of the Second World War, nations came together around a simple but profound idea: that peace, dignity, and equality are not privileges for the few, but rights for all. The opening words of our Charter “We the peoples of the United Nations” remind us that our mission begins and ends with people.
For eight decades, the United Nations has stood as a beacon of hope and cooperation. Together, we have worked to forge peace, tackle poverty and hunger, advance human rights, protect the environment, and build a more sustainable future. These are not abstract ideals, they are tangible achievements. I’ll give a few examples:
- Today, around 67,000 peacekeepers serve in 11 operations, helping countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
- Our humanitarian agencies delivered food assistance to 123 million people.
- Global efforts enabled to mitigate impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Through global governance the Ozone layer was recovered. (The Global Environment Facility as of 2024 has reached over 17 million people and cut emissions equivalent to removing 65 million cars from the roads. )
- Just last year, the UN assisted 48 countries with their elections.
- In 2024, 11 million people worldwide were provided with sexual and reproductive health services. And over 130 million children were vaccinated against measles.
I’m proud to be here today to also highlight some contributions that you, KU Leuven have made to these collective achievements. Some of you might remember that Secretary-General Guterres mentioned them when he was here in March.
- Your scholars have helped drive the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the global call for urgent climate action.
- Your universities have played a key role in founding the Global University Academy, opening doors to higher education for refugees worldwide.
And much more – providing research excellence, bringing innovative solutions, science-policy interface, and importantly educating and inspiring new generations of young people.
These successes show what is possible when nations and other actors work together. But as we celebrate, we must also confront the reality of today’s challenges: escalating conflicts, a deepening climate crisis, reaching the limits of our Planet, widening inequalities, and technologies evolving faster than our ability to govern them. The very fabric of multilateralism is being tested.
Peace, contrary to what some might think, is, as Secretary-General Guterres put it a few months ago, “the most courageous, the most practical, the most necessary pursuit of all”.
This is no time for timidity or retreat. Now, more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone.
That is why the Secretary-General launched the UN80 Initiative, a system-wide effort to make the UN more agile, effective, and future-ready. Guided by Our Common Agenda and the Pact for the Future, we are building UN 2.0: a more data-driven, digitally innovative, and responsive United Nations, fit for the 21st century. Whilst the UN Charter remains foundational, we need to renew the organisation to face present and future challenges.
Concretely, the UN80 Initiative aims to break down silos, consolidate expertise, and ensure that every dollar and every mandate deliver for people and planet.
Proposals include, among others:
- A New Humanitarian Compact to cut bureaucracy and speed up crisis response.
- A UN Data Commons and Technology Accelerator Platform to harness digital innovation.
- Structural reforms to strengthen coherence across peace, development, and human rights.
- Regional realignments and joint knowledge hubs to connect global resources with country needs.
The world we live in is complex and interconnected. The UN system, built incrementally over 80 years, must adapt to remain relevant and effective.
And adaptation requires partnership. Here in Leuven, at the heart of Europe’s academic and policy community, we are reminded of the power of ideas and collaboration.
The European Union and the United Nations share a common goal: a commitment to peace, human rights, and multilateralism. Together, we work in over 160 countries to protect human rights, reduce hunger, prevent crises, and promote sustainable development. The EU has been a steadfast partner in advancing climate efforts, sustainable finance, and a global green transition aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
I am especially pleased to see here today Ms. Stella Ronner, Deputy Managing Director at the EEAS. Her presence underscores the strength of the EU-UN partnership and our shared commitment to defending multilateralism at a time when it is under unprecedented strain.
And with the same breath I would like to expresses our gratitude of the support and strong relations between the UN and the Kingdom of Belgium, with a very rich cooperation from development, peace and security to humanitarian or normative work.
The shared values of multilateralism — unity, solidarity, and human rights — are giving way to suspicion and fracture. In this world, our collaboration is not just important, it is indispensable. It demonstrates what is possible when regional leadership meets global ambition.
And it shows that multilateralism is not an abstract concept; it is a practical tool for solving real problems.
Transformation cannot happen in isolation. It requires trust, investment, and collaboration.
As we look ahead, let us remember: the UN is not just an institution, it is a living promise. A promise that when “we the peoples” choose to act as one, we can overcome even the greatest challenges.
On this anniversary, let us renew that promise. Let us recommit to multilateralism, to solidarity, and to action, because a better world is not only possible, it is within our reach.
Thank you.
