This essay explores the challenges facing global and regional multilateralism, focusing on the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). It discusses how multilateralism has not steadily increased but has faced periods of advancement and difficulty. The current issues are identified as sticking points that hinder progress. The goal is to understand these challenges, similarities between the UN and EU levels, and their impact on each other. The study suggests that while multilateralism has expanded into more policy areas, it has also faced obstacles in maintaining support for its norms and principles.