EU statement at UNESCO

I am honored to speak on behalf of the European Union. The associate countries of the European Union - Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey - join us in this statement.

We fully support, Director-General, the sentiments expressed in your statement of 12 September on the terrorist attacks in the United States.

We would like to draw attention to the conclusions of the Extraordinary European Council of 21 September, that these attacks represent an assault on our open, democratic and tolerant societies. Moreover, the European Union categorically rejects any equation of groups of fanatical terrorists with the Arab and Muslim world.

These attacks are also an assault on the principles of mutual understanding and international cooperation laid down in UNESCO's Constitution. More than ever, it is our duty to implement these principles. We therefore note our appreciation of the steps the Director-General has taken to this purpose.

We have considered the Director-General's request, in his statement of 25 September, that the Board should reflect on the processes to be put in place that might enable UNESCO to enhance its role in the light of the events of 11 September.

Taking account of the urgent call in UNGA Resolution 56/1 (2001) and UNSC Resolution 1368 (2001), we see merit in a statement from the General Conference, requesting the Director-General to review thoroughly the programmes of the Organization relevant to this matter, and to report to the 164th session of the Executive Board.

This 162nd session of the Executive Board takes place at a crucial moment, when we are in a position not only to carry out an assessment of reform, but also to prepare a large number of proposals for the 31st General Conference.

While reserving the possibility of revisiting the subject during the General Conference, the European Union will focus in this intervention on the following points: reform of the Organization, extra-budgetary resources, follow-up to Dakar, sciences and sustainable development, culture and the freedom of information.

I Reform of UNESCO

The Member States of the European Union support the process of rationalization and modernization of the Organization undertaken with such determination by the Director-General since his arrival in office, and would encourage him to continue this process.

We consider it important, however, that recruitment procedures should respect above all the principle of merit, and of transparency and as wide a geographical distribution as possible.

The reform of decentralization should be widened to include cost and efficiency criteria.

In this context we also acknowledge the will to rationalize which underpins the overall strategy for UNESCO's Institutes and Centres. This however will need to take account of their functional autonomy.

The savings yielded from administrative systems, from the governing bodies and from travel costs should allow further resources to be dedicated to Programmes.

As regards Programme reform, the 31 C/4 and 31 C/5 as amended by the 161st Executive Board are the essential instrument, and should be used in with respect to the budgetary norms.

II Extra-budgetary resources

Given that extra-budgetary resources form an increasing share of the Organization's funding, we reaffirm the principles in the 161st Executive Board's decision 7.4. In this respect it is more than ever imperative that these resources should be used for UNESCO's priority areas as defined by the approved C/4 and C/5.

III Education

The fifteen Member States of the European Union support the absolute priority accorded to the pursuit of the objectives in the Dakar Framework for action on education.

The Fifteen appreciate the increase of 41.7% in credits set aside for the chief priority, Basic Education for All, for 2002-2003.

They acknowledge the different initiatives the Director-General has taken to maintain the follow-up to Dakar, and would like to see this process accelerated. The follow-up process should integrate the role of information technology into Education For All, as well as the conclusions of the 46th International Conference on Education. It should clearly define the specific role of UNESCO as a coordinating body in the process of Education for All and in the framework of the commitments undertaken by the international organizations, donor and partner countries, and civil society. The E9 countries, youth and the education of girls should receive particular attention. Education for the prevention of HIV/AIDS is a fundamental task, which UNESCO should mainstream across all its education policies and programmes.

IV Science

It is advisable to seek a balance between the natural and the social sciences when trying to resolve the problems surrounding sustainable, yet culturally and socially harmonious development. In this respect, we would like to emphasize the importance of the theme of ethics in science, and notably the work of the International and Intergovernmental Committees on Bioethics. We acknowledge the Director-General's initiative in convening a Ministerial Round Table on this subject, to examine in tandem with the action taken by the UN, the possibility of preparing as necessary a legal instrument on this important subject. Joint follow-up with the World Conference on Science and the World Conference on Higher Education will be essential.

V Culture

The countries of the European Union are giving close consideration to the Director-General's initiatives to guarantee effective protection to endangered heritage, to promote international cooperation and to raise public awareness on the importance of conserving and attaching value to cultural heritage.

We attach importance to the preservation of cultural diversity and to the promotion of cultural pluralism. We acknowledge the Director-General's work in preparing, in consultation with Member States, a Statement on Cultural Diversity to be finalized by the Executive Board for adoption by the 31st General Conference.

VI Communication and Information

The Fifteen reaffirm their commitment to freedom of expression and the free circulation of ideas. They are convinced of the determining role played by information and aids to communication in development.

They are therefore pleased at the setting up of the Information for All programmes.

They would like emphasize that it is the responsibility of states to widen access to information and educational activities, and to build capacity.

VII Concluding Remarks

The Fifteen attach importance to the essential and cross-cutting theme of poverty.

The fight against poverty, particularly abject poverty, should be the driving force behind each programme. UNESCO should therefore develop even closer partnerships with the other UN agencies and with other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental.

We attach similar importance to an improvement in UNESCO's working methods in general, and of its governing bodies in particular.

These proposals and comments from the European Union are by their nature intended to reinforce the effectiveness, the credibility and the visibility of UNESCO, internationally, among its Member States and with its target audience.

| Top |