President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock briefed Member States on her priorities for the remainder of the Assembly’s 80th session. Highlighting “the imperative of reform,” she asked Member States for support, leadership, and cross-regional cooperation to preserve and modernize the UN.

Speaking before the Assembly on 14 January 2026, the President said her main priority is to defend the UN, its Charter, and “the principles enshrined in it.” She called on Member States “to symbolically recommit by signing the 80th anniversary Charter poster ahead of Charter Day,” marked on 26 June. Baerbock encouraged countries to endeavor to bridge divides and find compromise as long as “compromise doesn’t become appeasement,” at which point “principled conviction must supersede concession.”

Echoing the Secretary-General’s priorities for the year, the President cautioned that “without sustainable development and human rights, there cannot be lasting peace,” and “without peace there can be no sustainable development.” She said a new series of discussions in spring will “re-anchor the Pact for the Future… as implementation moves from commitment to delivery.” These will be complemented by monthly ‘Better Together’ dialogues.

Among other upcoming events, Baerbock said a meeting on least developed countries (LDCs), organized jointly by the UNGA and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will have a special focus on climate and development.

The President welcomed governments’ engagement in the UN80 Initiative, particularly progress in the Informal Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review, which recently presented a zero-draft resolution for Member States’ consideration. She looked forward to further constructive engagement and to the Working Group’s final outcome at the end of March.

While the UN80 reform is critical to ensuring the UN continues to function, Baerbock warned that “no amount of reform can resolve a financial crisis if Member States do not meet their financial obligations.”

The President further indicated that interactive dialogues with the candidates for the position of Secretary-General are expected to begin the week of 20 April. These dialogues, she said, will offer each candidate the opportunity to present their vision statement and answer questions from Member States. Civil society organizations (CSOs), she said, will also have a chance to engage with the candidates. Baerbock encouraged Member States to submit qualified candidates early and to “strongly consider the nomination of women.” [UNGA President’s Remarks at the Briefing on the Priorities for the Resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly]