The European Union and its member states at COP17 have called for a constructive final week of negotiations, expressing concern that some parties have prevented discussions on key agenda items from beginning and urging all delegations to keep the focus on turning commitments into action.

In a joint statement issued with Montenegro as the talks moved toward their decisive phase, the EU said it was determined to work with all parties and partners to secure "practical, ambitious, and implementable outcomes" on land degradation, drought resilience, and sustainable land management. It described COP17 as an important opportunity to translate those commitments into action, while acknowledging that negotiations at the multilateral level are complex.

The bloc voiced concern over the conduct of the opening days. Backing multilateralism as an essential tool for problems that cannot be solved at the national level, it said it was troubling that some parties had adopted "a less constructive approach" and blocked discussion of important matters before it could begin. The EU encouraged all delegations to allow a full discussion of every listed item so that COP17 could find solutions collaboratively.

Setting out its priorities for the remaining days, the EU said its central objective was to preserve the core priorities of the Convention and ensure they are reflected across its outcomes and implementation mechanisms. It highlighted several areas it considers essential.

On cooperation between the three Rio Conventions, the EU said land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change are interconnected and should be tackled in mutually reinforcing ways, welcoming a dedicated COP17 dialogue on delivering synergies as a chance to move from political recognition toward concrete action.

On gender, it welcomed the continued work of the Gender Caucus and the attention given to women pastoralists and herders, calling gender equality an integral part of efforts to strengthen land restoration, drought resilience, and food security.

On science, the EU said the Convention's science-policy interface has served the global community well since 2013 and should continue its work into the next two-year period, describing it as a "connector and a translator" between research and policy.

The EU also stressed the meaningful participation of civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities, calling their knowledge and stewardship essential to successful land restoration. It thanked the CSO Panel for giving pastoralists and local communities the opportunity to be heard during the conference.

The statement further welcomed work on the Convention's future strategic framework for the period after 2030, urging that it continue with "momentum and urgency." On finances, the EU said that despite budgetary pressure and the fiscal constraints facing parties, it was their duty to provide the Secretariat with a budget sufficient to carry out its mandated tasks effectively.

The EU said COP17 should be judged by whether it enables effective action, and that a successful conference would deliver stronger implementation, cooperation, and participation without any loss of ambition. Citing a speaker at the opening of the high-level segment on August 24 who told the plenary that "no one can stand alone and no one can be an exception," the bloc said it would continue to work with the Mongolian Presidency, the Secretariat, and all parties to find solutions that are "both ambitious and politically achievable."

Published Date:2026-08-27