Security Council Programme of Work for May 2025
Greece is the president of the Security Council in May. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 May).
As the signature event of its presidency, Greece is expected to convene a high-level open debate on maritime security under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of Board of Directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Melina Travlos.
In May, the Security Council will convene the annual open debate on protection of civilians to discuss the Secretary-General’s annual report on this topic. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis will chair the meeting. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and a representative of Save the Children.
Regarding European issues, the semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is expected to take place in May. High Representative for BiH Christian Schmidt may brief.
As in previous months, there may also be one or more meetings on Ukraine in May.
Several Middle Eastern issues are on the programme this month.
Council members expect to receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559. Adopted in 2004, it called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias, and the extension of government control over the whole Lebanese territory. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is the anticipated briefer.
The Council will hold its monthly meeting on Yemen in May. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and an official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are expected to brief on political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country in the open session. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
The Council plans to hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and an OCHA official will brief.
The Council’s regular monthly briefing and consultations on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” will feature briefings by Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim Sigrid Kaag and an OCHA official. Additional meetings on the file may be convened depending on developments.
The Council is also expected to address several African issues in May. The Security Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) prior to its 9 May expiration. It will also vote on a draft resolution extending the South Sudan sanctions regime, which expires on 31 May, and renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, which expires on 1 July.
The Council is expected to vote this month on a resolution renewing for one year the authorisation for member states, acting nationally or through regional organisations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya, bound to or from Libya, that they have reasonable grounds to believe are violating the arms embargo. The current authorisation expires on 31 May. Earlier in the month, an informal interactive dialogue (IID) is planned on the activities of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR Med IRINI (Operation IRINI), which remains the only regional arrangement to inspect vessels under this authorisation.
The Council will also receive the biannual briefing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, on the ICC’s Libya-related activities.
One Asian issue is currently on the programme this month.
Council members are scheduled to discuss the 90-day report on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee in closed consultations.
Late in the month, the Security Council and the General Assembly plan to hold an election to fill the vacancy in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the resignation of Judge Nawaf Salam (Lebanon) on 14 January. A joint IID organised by the Security Council and the General Assembly with the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) will be held on the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review. The meeting will focus on elements to include in the twin resolutions to be adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council before the end of the year.
Other issues could be raised during the month depending on developments.
