EU Presidency Statement - Science and technology for development

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia), and the other associated countries (Cyprus, Malta, Turkey), as well as Iceland, EFTA country, member of the EEA, endorse this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

1. The relationship between technology and development has not always been a harmonious one at the United Nations and mistrust is still deeply rooted in our minds. The problem of technology transfer is often associated with an unequal relationship: on one side, "owner" countries of technology are keen to maintain research incentives and comparative advantage, and on the other, developing countries are convinced that technology transfer is a fundamental obligation, and necessary condition, for development. The latter countries feel there should be all-out encouragement of technology transfer, with preferential conditions applying, if possible. The EU is convinced that this somewhat antagonistic picture of the debate surrounding technology for development can be transcended in order to build a true partnership between technology and sustainable development, notably by fully integrating the technological dimension in development strategies, programmes and projects, also with a view to strengthening institutional capacity.

Mr. Chairman,
2. Another misunderstanding which the EU would like to clear up during today's discussion within the Second Committee is the occasional overly narrow understanding of technology, restricting it to information technology. There is no denying that the new information and communication technologies are important. This topic has been the subject of frequent debates within both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, in particular during the high-level segment of the 2000 session. On that occasion, the Council adopted a plan to create an ICT Task Force. This ambitious venture requires the consistent and concerted participation of the UN system and the private sector.

Nevertheless, an isolated "ICT" approach leaves aside a whole range of new technologies in the molecular, genetic and nano-technological fields, which are equally revolutionary. These new technologies will change development means irreversibly, in particular in the medical and food sectors. We therefore need a broader vision of the real impact, which all these new technologies will have on our lives and the development prospects they will engender. The 2001 Human Development Report on "Making New Technologies Work for Human Development" is revealing in this respect.

3. New technologies fundamentally change the notion of participative society: the Internet, and mobile communications, are already, in many countries, the instrument for more participative democracy. Information circulates, opinions are formed and shared. The world has become a global village where information is instantaneously exchanged for next to nothing. The emergence of the communication society means we are faced with extremely complex challenges, which it is important to meet: security of networks, the protection of privacy, cyber crime and so on. But the prognosis is exceptionally positive: recent examples have shown the power of the e-mail network, and how authoritarian governments are powerless to control it.

4. The new biotechnologies will, in years to come, offer beneficial solutions for basic health and for combating tropical diseases in developing countries. It goes without saying that financial incentives for private research into diseases found only in developing countries is currently inadequate. Public funding in this area should be encouraged. We welcome the efforts of the OECD to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to fully exploit the new biotechnologies. In the framework of the Conference on Financing for Development, the EU will work on the important concepts of Global Public Goods. The implementation of decisions relating to the Aids Fund and other infectious diseases with a view to funding research is a promising development.

5. The digital revolution is also accompanied by a genetic revolution. The EU recognizes the importance of progress on transgenetic revolutions, especially in relation to new crop varieties. As highlighted by the Secretary General in his report, the efforts made by countries to guarantee food security, to improve the health of populations, to ensure respect for the environment in the long term and to increase productivity could be supported by the resources offered by biotechnology. Today, the world is not self-sufficient in the matter of food security. Over 800 million people live on under 2000 calories a day. A new, "sustainable" agriculture must be developed which can meet the needs of the people, while at the same time being ecologically sound. The European Union would like to take this opportunity to stress again the need to gear scientific and technological progress towards a sustainable improvement in food and health conditions for people and towards natural resources management, which respects the environment. Enthusiasm for new biotechnological techniques should not blind us to their inherent dangers. Improperly mastered technology can have incalculable consequences. The EU would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its attachment to the precautionary principle, which governs our policy on imports.
Without scientific certainty, in the absence of incontrovertible proof of quality and safety, the EU will take the precautionary approach. The EU is prepared to help strengthen the capacities of developing countries in the areas of "sustainable" agriculture, biological safety, nutrition, and the use of modern agricultural technology. Some biotechnology research is not necessarily prohibitive, and may be encouraged in situ in developing countries. Official Development Assistance can play a capacity-building role in the development of national and regional centers of excellence.

Mr. Chairman,

6. In the context of new technology, the EU recognizes the urgent need to bridge what may be considered as a technology gap between rich countries and the poorest of developing countries. This technological divide is real. It is exacerbated by shortcomings in basic infrastructure, and by the absence of knowledge-related structures sufficiently developed to derive maximum benefit from access to information. We are convinced that the creation of an environment which is favorable to human intellectual development can contribute to redressing the technological balance: besides the necessary material infrastructure, the intellectual and cognitive foundations of society have to be consolidated in order to gain from the explosion in access to knowledge. Reducing the technology gap is not a panacea, but if measures to this end are applied correctly, with priority given to poverty reduction, they can become an empowering tool for development.

7. In this debate on technology for development, it is evident that favorable policies at national level, so as to attract investment, are the keystone of any sensible policy on the subject. "Transfer" alone is not sufficient. The right environment is needed to engender creativity, individual competition, the freedom to think, to work, to dedicate oneself to a subject, in peace and security.

8. The EU takes note of the Secretary General's report and of the proposals, which have been presented to reinforce the role of the Committee on Science and Technology for Development. It encourages the initiatives taken by the CSTD to develop cooperative links between functional Commissions, particularly with the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Sustainable Development, amongst others. Cooperative structures have been established between their respective bureaus. The EU welcomes the creation of an electronic network on science and technology (STDEV) designed to encourage synergies within the UN system in the area of technology for development. This instrument also enables Commission experts to remain in permanent contact when not in session.

9. The EU remains prudent as regards further commitments on questions related to the creation of new institutions in the technological field. We are not convinced of the need to set up a joint UN programme on science and technology along the lines of the Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS nor by the suggestion of creating a new special fund. We believe that the best policy in this area must be to encourage the entire system to integrate the technological dimension on the ground and in programmes and projects. Organizations such as the World Bank, UNESCO, UNIDO, FAO, WHO and UNEP have a defining role to play in the dissemination of ecologically rational and sustainable technology for development. In order to ensure improved synergy between these organizations and agencies, we would underline once again the need for close cooperation to be established between them in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of action taken to promote development.

11. Finally, the EU does not wish to engage in debate here at the General Assembly on the question of the organization of the CSTD's work and sessions. This question has been the subject of debate in the Economic and Social Council this year. It will be settled when the Ecosoc session is resumed. The EU would not like to prejudice this decision, which is primarily a matter for the Council, at the General Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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