Poland in the UN

On 15 December, 2025, Poland participated in the UN Security Council briefing on Leadership for Peace.

The full statement delivered by Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN in New York, is available below:

Mr. President,

I would like to thank Slovenia for convening this timely and important debate, and to thank former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and for sharing his valuable insights. We thank also Professor Anjali Dayal for her inspiring remarks.

In a little bit more than a year from now, the new Secretary General will assume the office. Very little suggests the world will be a safer and more predictable place than it is today. Our new Secretary-General will be confronted with persistent violations of the UN Charter, ongoing armed conflicts, and a growing erosion of trust in multilateral institutions. These trends underscore the need for genuine leadership, but also for a renewed collective determination among UN members.

This determination will be needed, first and foremost, to undertake responsible actions to advance the UN reform. Poland appreciates Secretary-General Guterres’s UN80 initiative and notes that it is up to us, the Member States, to deliver a positive outcome from this process. An outcome that will streamline the activities of the UN and enable it to adapt to current challenges and the expectations of the international community.

Mr. President,

Throughout the UN80 process, Poland emphasises the need to preserve the very foundations of the UN. The three pillars of peace and security, human rights and sustainable development must remain equally important. Member States should reinforce the Secretary-General’s initiatives by supporting compliance with international law, upholding the Charter, and providing adequate resources for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and humanitarian action as well as protecting human rights.

Another broadly expected and needed reform concerns the Security Council. We believe that the leadership of the next Secretary-General will be critical in steering the Organization toward the successful implementation of these reforms. In this context, close and effective cooperation between the Secretary-General and the Security Council is indispensable. Recognizing the fundamental principle of the equality of all UN Member States, we emphasize the importance of enhanced cooperation between the Secretary-General, the General Assembly, and other UN bodies.

Mr. President,

Beyond independence, integrity, and impartiality – qualities expected of all candidates – the next Secretary-General should have a proven record of professional experience in presiding over international bodies. Given the current geopolitical environment, the next Secretary-General should be a diplomat with first-hand experience in mediation and crisis management. We should seek a candidate with such qualities as moral courage, strategic vision, and the ability to mobilize the international community around innovative and inclusive solutions.

Strong leadership based on the Charter of the United Nations, supported by committed members and equipped with preventive tools, is essential to ensuring that the United Nations remains responsive and effective in protecting peace. Poland stands ready to contribute to these joint efforts.

Thank you.