EU Presidency Statement - UN ECE 57th Session on 'Strengthening the organization'

Summary: May 8, 2002: Statement by the Presidency of the European Union at the 57th Session of the UN ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) on Agenda item 6: Strengthening the organization (May 7-10, 2002), (Geneva)

Mr. Chairman:

I address this statement on behalf of the European Union and its member States as well as on behalf of the following associated countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

We thank the Executive Secretary for the comprehensive and ambitious document and the thought-provoking views just presented today. The present discussion may lead to the initiation of a formal reform process, and we take note of the assurances of the Executive Secretary that we are not expected to adopt a decision, due to its importance, at this session. On the other hand, we must say that we regret that the informal document CRP 3 has been distributed so late and as a Conference Room Paper. This, and the fact that we have not been consulted or at least informed in advance, precludes deeper discussion on the subject at this stage.

We would therefore limit ourselves to make some initial comments on this important issue as the document proposed a most ambitious reform of the ECE, five years after the adoption of the Plan of Action of 1997. In our view, and taking into account the encouraging results of the 1997 reform, the Plan of Action remains the basic reference for the Organization:

Any possible new measures should be taken with due regard to the mandate of other European regional institutions and organizations in order to avoid overlapping and inefficiencies.
In accordance with the principles of the Plan of Action of 1997, the focus of work of the ECE should be put on those areas where it has recognized expertise and proven advantages, and which are sustainable in the long run. We would like to know how the proposal to refocus the ECE mandate could be achieved without impinging in these technical competences of the organization and without weakening the ability of the ECE to produce tangible work that has concrete and useful achievements.
Any changes should be coherent with the mandate of the other bodies in UN system and coordinated with other institutions related to the ECE mandate.
The measures that could be taken should be demand driven, as mentioned in CRP-3, with full participation of Member Countries and after full consultations with PSB´s.
The modalities and timing of the process will have to be agreed later by future "ad hoc" meetings of the Commission, assisted by the Group of Experts on the program of work.

Mr. Chairman:

We take note of the explanation provided by the Executive Secretary on the relations of her proposals with the broader UN reform mandated by the Secretary General and we look forward in engaging proper discussion on this matter so as to influence the process.

Finally, we also would like to know if the resource implications of any re-shifting of priorities have been fully considered. We fully subscribe to the statement in CRP-3 that new activities must be taken on only when other activities are dropped in an unchanged budgetary situation.

Ref: PRES02-078EN
EU source: EU Presidency
UN forum: Other
Date: 8/5/2002

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