Summary: March 13, 2001: Items 116 and 123: Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on senior level appointments in the United Nations, its programmes and funds. Statement by Mr. Magnus Lenefors, Permanent Mission of Sweden on behalf of the European Union (New York)
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The European Union would like to thank the Inspector, Mr. Kudryavtsev, for introducing the report by the Joint Inspection Unit on senior-level appointments in the United Nations and its programmes and funds. We welcome this thorough review of the appointment process, as senior management play a crucial role in the work of the Organisation.
Mr Chairman,
The European Union would like to underline that the Secretary General is the Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations, whose prerogatives and responsibilities according to the Charter must be respected.
The European Union concurs with the comments made by the Secretary General in his report (A/55/423/Add.1) on the report of the Joint Inspection Unit. In addition, we would like to make the following observations.
Mr. Chairman,
The recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit to make consultations with Member States a requisite part of the selection process, risk leading to unnecessary delays in the appointment process and to further politicise the issue. Furthermore, the recommendation to extensively amend staff regulation 4.5 would run counter to previous efforts by the General Assembly to simplify Staff Regulations and Rules.
In its report, the Joint Inspection Unit rightly points to the importance of ensuring that as wide a geographical mix as possible is reflected at the senior policy-making levels, as well as the necessity to improve gender balance at the policy-making levels of the Organisation. The European Union welcomes the Secretary General´s important efforts in these areas.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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