EU Presidency Statement - Report of JIU on the results approach in the UN

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and the associated countries - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey have aligned themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union wishes to thank the Joint Inspection Unit for its very relevant report entitled: "Results Approach in the United Nations: Implementing the Millennium Declaration," contained in document A/57/372/Add.1. This report is second in a series of the JIU reports on the theme of results-based budgeting.

The European Union has consistently argued in favor of a results-based management (RBM) in the United Nations and thus greatly supported the reform proposals of the Secretary-General in 1997, which, inter alia, aimed at introducing a "results culture" in the Organization. On a national level, this approach allowed us to respond to our public opinion, which wants to see results of government action. In the UN context, there is an equally important need to introduce this culture of responsiveness and accountability. Public opinion in all our countries ought to be informed about whether the UN responds to the manifold challenges in an efficient, cost-effective and transparent manner, and, in doing so, contributes to reaching the expected results in the various domains of its work.

The theme of the JIU report before us is very timely. The report analyzes the important role of results-based management (RBM) techniques, as used in the programme budget and the medium-term plan, to reach the Millennium Declaration Goals and goals embodied in the action plans of the various World and UN conferences. Compared to the previous budget methodology, the results-based management (RBM) instruments at hand already put us in a better position to assess the progress made. While we believe in the necessity to perfect the results-based management (RBM) processes, we should never loose sight of the purpose of the exercise: The need to assist Member States in reaching the goals, which constitute a commitment undertaken by the whole international community.

The programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 was an important first step towards a "results culture," but there is still much room for improvement. Part I of the report addresses important questions such as whether the format and content of the programme budget and the medium-term plan correspond to the expectations of Member States and thus allow for well informed decisions and identification of results. The report provides a very useful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the present results-based programme budget and medium-term plan and recommends ways to enhance their effectiveness.

We acknowledge that it is not always easy to attribute results to actions and therefore welcome the report's clarification of the potential and constraints of the present results approach. Only clearer and more precise objectives, expected accomplishments, indicators of achievements, and external factors will allow for a more effective monitoring and evaluation. In this context, the JIU report recommends the establishment of baseline and target data for measuring indicators of achievements, and the expansion of the results-based framework to the executive direction and management component of all programmes. The United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) comments in document A/57/372/Add.1 endorse recommendations 1 and 2, which will help to improve the programme budget and the medium-term plan.

The European Union emphasizes that there no "one-size-fits-all" results approach. On a national level, our results-based management (RBM) techniques are continuously adapted, reformed and refined. The JIU report thus rightly stresses that specificities must be taken into account and results-based management (RBM) must be continuously adapted to the very nature of the United Nations. This process is a challenge to both the Secretariat and Member States. The report under consideration, as the Secretary General and the members of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) state, in the summary of their comments, (paragraph 3 of doc. A/57/372 Add.1), is therefore a "timely reminder of the need to keep under review the results approach applied in the UN and will no doubt engender further system-wide discussion on the diverse issues addressed."

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union believes that the medium-term plan can be a valid results-based management (RBM) instrument. The medium-term plan, in our view, should be the instrument to allow Members States to assess whether the strategy and corresponding activities of the United Nations are relevant and coherent in order to assist the international community to reach the Millennium Declaration and other international goals. Consequently, we must implement the JIU recommendation to bring the plan more in line with the Millennium Declaration Goals and action plans of the latest UN conferences. Yet, much work remains to be done so that the medium-term plan serves as a truly strategic instrument in the Organization's results-based management.

While this Committee considers only Part I of the report, the link to the overall objectives of the Organization in Part II also deserves our attention. The United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) stated that "the report will, no doubt, influence future thinking within the system on the wide range of concerns and issues it covers." In our view, part II of the report should soon be before the appropriate intergovernmental forum to address the report's system-wide angle.

To conclude, the European Union expresses its appreciation for an excellent JIU report. It should guide both the Secretariat in its preparation and Member States in their review of future programme budgets and medium-term plans.

Mr. Chairman,

Thank you for your kind attention.

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