New york: The European Union (EU) has expressed its position at the United Nations General Assembly regarding the Draft Resolution on Access to Assistive Technology (L.110). The statement was delivered by the Permanent Mission of Ireland on behalf of the EU and its 27 Member States.

According to European Union, the EU extended its gratitude to Pakistan for co-facilitating the process and reiterated its commitment to multilateralism and global health action. The EU emphasized the importance of a unified international response to global health challenges and joined the consensus on the resolution. However, the EU expressed regret over the removal of references to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the dilution of language concerning universal health coverage in the current version of the text.

The EU highlighted the significance of WHO as a central pillar in the global health architecture and underscored universal health coverage as crucial for building strong, inclusive, and resilient health systems. Concerns were raised about selective omissions in the text under the guise of changes in the General Assembly agenda item.

The statement also emphasized that access to technology must adhere to international rules. It asserted that technology transfer should be voluntary and based on mutually agreed terms, noting that the current text should not be considered a precedent for future negotiations.

The EU reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with partner countries in solidarity and accountability, respecting human rights to enhance health system resilience. This commitment is seen as fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.