The European headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva is closed until January 12. The closure of the Palais des Nations will enable the UN to save on heating, maintenance and electricity costs.

United Nations Geneva. An organisation in a liquidity crisis. According to UN spokesperson Alessandra Vellucci, the surging energy costs in Switzerland have heavily impacted the UN’s budget, necessitating the temporary closure. This decision was first brought to light by Radio SRF 1.

Despite the physical shutdown, the UN’s operations remain uninterrupted. Staff members have been remote working, ensuring the organisations continuity. Find out about a recent UN decision that shook Switzerland here.

However, for essential tasks that require physical presence, access to the Palais is still granted. Preparations are underway to partially reopen one of the buildings for the upcoming conferences.

United Nations Geneva: The History

The financial strain on the UN is in part, a result of delayed payment from over 50 member states, this includes the USA. The Palais des Nations, a landmark since 1938 and the European face of the UN since 1966, thus witnesses a rare pause in its longstanding diplomatic history.

©Keystone/SDA