European Council President Antonio Costa used his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 25 September 2026 to firmly reiterate the European Union's backing for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), declaring that adherence to international law is 'not an option but a responsibility.' His remarks came amid ongoing global debates over selective enforcement of international legal norms.

Costa's Core Message on International Law

Speaking during the general debate, Costa stated that the world is 'witnessing deliberate violations of international law' and warned against applying double standards. He made an explicit commitment on behalf of the EU to uphold the independence and integrity of both international courts.

'We stand firmly behind them and will uphold their independence, their integrity and their ability to fully exercise their mandate,' Costa said, referring to the ICJ and ICC. He went further, calling out threats directed at the criminal court: 'It is unacceptable to threaten or attack the International Criminal Court, its officials and its staff. Accountability cannot depend on political convenience.'

Launch of P4M: A New Multilateral Coalition

Sharing details of his UNGA address in a post on X, Costa announced that the EU had joined forces with Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, India, and Kenya to launch P4M: Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity. The coalition reflects a coordinated push by a cross-regional group of nations to reinforce rules-based international order at a time when multilateral institutions face mounting pressure.

'Multilateralism is the only realistic way to address the defining challenges of our time: peace and security, the climate emergency, economic insecurity and artificial intelligence,' Costa said in his post. He called for multilateralism that is 'strong, effective, representative and capable of delivering for people.'

Key Conflicts Named: Ukraine, Gaza, Iran

Costa identified three active conflict situations requiring urgent multilateral action. He called for ending Russia's aggression and achieving 'a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter.' He also urged an end to civilian suffering in Gaza and Palestine, with progress toward a two-state solution, and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Iran. Notably, this framing places all three situations under the same multilateral accountability framework — signalling the EU's intent to resist geopolitical carve-outs.

AI Governance and Global Financial Reform

Beyond security, Costa pressed for an accountable and regulated architecture for artificial intelligence (AI), insisting that the United Nations must play a central role in setting global AI governance standards. 'We need an AI that serves humanity, not controls it,' he said. He additionally called for reform of the global financial architecture with a focus on sustainable development, and described the 2027 Sustainable Development Goals Summit as a potential 'turning point' to correct course and meet 2030 targets. This is consistent with his earlier public positions; in August, Costa had posted on X expressing solidarity with ICC President Tomoko Akane and officials working to uphold the court's mission.

Significance for India and the Broader Coalition

India's inclusion as a founding partner of P4M is notable, given New Delhi's historically non-aligned posture on Western-led multilateral initiatives. The partnership signals an emerging convergence — at least at the rhetorical level — between the EU and major emerging economies on rules-based governance. Whether the coalition translates into coordinated action at the UN Security Council level or within WTO and IMF reform processes remains to be seen. The next major test for P4M will likely come at the 2027 SDG Summit, which Costa has identified as a critical milestone.