On 4 May 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution in which the EU will have its voice at this Assembly. The new status means that it will allow senior EU representatives to present the common positions of the Union to the Assembly.

The resolution (draft resolution A/65/L.64 Rev.1) on the participation of the EU in the work of the UN was adopted by 180 UN Member States. Syria and Zimbabwe abstained and 10 countries did not vote. With this decision, the EU representatives will have the right to make interventions during sessions and to be invited to participate in the general debate.

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, stated that now the EU has achieved an important recognition as a global actor at the United Nations. In addition at having the right to make interventions during sessions, the resolution also permits EU communications relating to the sessions and work of the Assembly to be circulated directly as documents of the Assembly.

Moreover, EU representatives will also have the right to present proposals and amendments agreed by EU Member States. EU representatives will also be able to exercise the right of reply concerning the positions of the EU. They will be seated among the observers, but they will not have the right to vote or to put forward candidates neither being able to challenge decisions of the Assembly's presiding officer.

With this resolution, the General Assembly acknowledges that since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, the European Commission and EU Delegations ensure the Union's external representation in accordance with the Treaties.