Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
H.E. Annalena Baerbock
on the occasion of Briefing on the Global Compat for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration:
Report of the Secretary General
27 February 2026
(As Delivered )
Your Excellency, Mr. Ant¨®nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Ms. Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Nearly four years have passed since the first International Migration Review Forum in May 2022, and this year we look ahead to the second Review of the Global Compact.
Across this period, the fundamental reality of migration has remained unchanged.
As has been the case for centuries, people have moved from one country to another in search of safety, opportunity, and dignity.
Migration remains a fact of life, all the more so in today¡¯s interconnected global world.
Migration, so the movement of people, has different faces, probably as many faces as we all have here in this room. People move when they are young, when they are students, to study abroad, and later to stay because of finding a friend, finding a husband or spouse. Others stay because they cannot find a job in their home countries.
We have seasonal agricultural workers who travel each year to major farming hubs, for example, in my home country, coming from our neighboring countries, or lately, from further abroad. Without these migrants we could hardly produce any fruits in Summer and especially the very famous ¡®spargel¡¯.
In other situations, we have big companies who need IT experts calling openly worldwide to come to their region, so they can build up new startups or new AI technologies. Especially in the service industry or healthcare sectors, many companies depend on migrant workers.
And even the most famous superstars have to move from country to country, sometimes form continent to continent. As Europeans we all know Lionel Messi, who is coming from Argentina, but who played for FC Barcelona in Spain and Paris Saint Germain in France before continuing to finalize his career in the United States with Inter Miami.
So, all these different faces show that it is not only human to move, to be a migrant, but also that it means different opportunities and challenges.
Unfortunately, in these times, the increase in migrations meant that people did not move to become a superstar, but too many have to move because of tragic circumstances; people who are compelled by poverty or crisis at home and who seek a better future abroad for themselves or their children.
And too often those people are facing vulnerable journeys and susceptible to exploitation, including trafficking. These risks further underline the importance of better global regulation and strong protection systems for all migrants.
But I would like to underline again that also a student, even a football player, needs also global regulation on healthcare or social protections. So again, all of these government structures are in the interest of all.
Migration is not an individual issue, but a global one.
With an estimated 304 million migrants worldwide, it is in the interest of all Member States to have governance structures aligned with the Global Compact to ensure that migration occurs in a manner that is safe, humane, and predictable.
The Global Compact provides a framework for aligning national interests with global stability.
And for ensuring that migration delivers tangible benefits for communities in countries of origin, transit, and destination alike.
Looking ahead to the Second International Migration Review Forum, the General Assembly has an important responsibility to take stock of implementation against the commitments of the Global Compact, to spotlight successes and challenges, and to mobilize strengthened collective action that accelerates safe, orderly, and regular migration worldwide.
In this regard, I have appointed His Excellency Mr. Erastus Lokaale, Permanent Representative of Kenya, and His Excellency Mr. Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg, as co-facilitators to guide the preparatory process.
I encourage Member States to engage actively and constructively in this process.
Today¡¯s briefing offers an opportunity to take stock and to deepen our understanding.
I now have the honour to invite the Secretary-General to present his report.
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