EU Presidency Statement - UN peacekeeping operations

Summary: October 3, 2000: Statement by Mr. Jean-David Levitte, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations peacekeeping operations (New York)

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

The European Union welcomes the fact that the General Assembly can now finally open negotiations on the scale of contributions to peacekeeping operations. For many years the European Union has been calling for reform of the present arrangement which was concluded in 1973. It is pleased that such a large number of States share the same concern.

We consider that reform of the scale for peacekeeping operations is essential if the Organization, and for one of its essential tasks, is to have an equitable and therefore stable and sustainable financial basis.

I would remind you, if I may, that very recently (on 20 March) the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Union reaffirmed the Union's wish to see an overall reform of the two scales: for the regular budget and for peacekeeping operations. They again emphasized that the European Union could not consider overhauling the scale of contributions to the United Nations without open negotiations aiming at a fairer distribution of the financial burden and at protecting the financial interests of EU Member States, currently contributing at a rate far in excess of their share of world wealth. This year the European Union is contributing 39% of the cost of the UN's peacekeeping operations and paying substantial amounts for peacekeeping operations within the framework of regional organizations.

The European Union's proposals for the scale for peacekeeping operations date from 1996, as are those concerning the scale for the regular budget. This shows the depth of the EU's commitment to these two matters.

The European analysis is based on three principles which must be very closely observed in establishing the future scale for peacekeeping operations:

- capacity to pay;

- the special responsibility of the Permanent Members of the Security Council;

- the relatively limited capacity of countries with less developed economies to make contributions.

Finding the resources to provide the financial backing for the UN's mandates, including peacekeeping operations, is a collective responsibility of members represented at the General Assembly. Hence the arrangements for financing peacekeeping operations must not over the long term depart from the principle of capacity to pay.

However, the scale for apportioning the cost of peacekeeping operations was introduced in 1973 on a provisional basis and in the context of that time. The period since then has seen profound economic change in all parts of the world. However, the scale has changed very little since then: it has taken account only very partially, imperfectly and belatedly of the changes affecting the Member States' prosperity and hence their capacity to pay.

It is therefore not surprising that there are considerable anomalies in the way the scale for peacekeeping operations is currently structured. Let me mention some of them:
- about twenty countries whose per capita income is higher than the world average are still granted a considerable reduction of 80 to 90% for no currently valid reason;
- on the other hand, one country whose per capita income is lower than the world average has not been granted any reduction. Its situation must be resolved;
- the lack of flexibility in the current scale structure also affects Member States whose economic situation is deteriorating and which cannot benefit from an automatic reduction.
The circumstances described are not equitable. They must be corrected as part of an overall reform.

One of the European Union's main objectives is reform of the groups into a more fluid structure better reflecting each Member State's capacity to pay. The groups' structure should be based on objective criteria, in particular per capita income. Their composition would therefore be regularly updated as soon as new economic data become available.
The Permanent Members of the Security Council must assume special responsibility with regard to financing peacekeeping operations. As you know, the scale for peacekeeping operations is primarily based on the assessment rates negotiated for the regular budget, the Permanent Members of the Security Council paying an additional charge reflecting their special responsibility. For the European Union, any departure from this principle is out of the question. The level of the surcharge (15% would be a reasonable level to aim at in the European Union's view) must however be the subject of discussion, as must the structure of the groups and the reduction granted to low-income countries.

The surcharge must be fixed, predictable, negotiated and agreed upon by all the Member States.

The level of the surcharge must be determined on the basis of the methodology used in determining the scale for the regular budget and the Permanent Members' contribution to that budget. It shows how far the principle of capacity to pay has been distorted in the name of the special responsibility of the Permanent Members of the Security Council. Failing reform, the surcharge would exceed 25% in 2001.
I turn to the third principle. The countries with poorer economies have a relatively low capacity to contribute to paying for peacekeeping operations. It is precisely to reduce their share of the burden, the European Union believes, that a surcharge is levied on the five Permanent Members. This is a further solidarity measure to complement the planned mechanisms for redistributing the financial burden in the ordinary scale.

Let me remind you, if I may, of the spirit in which the European Union is approaching these negotiations, something I referred to briefly yesterday before this Committee. In 1996 the European Union proposed four sets of measures to restore the balance and sustainability of the United Nations' finances and place the Organization on a predictable, sound, lasting and equitable financial footing. Reform of the scale for peacekeeping operations is part of this package, as is reform of the scale for the regular budget. It goes without saying, however, that the objective will be fully achieved only if all the Member States pay all their contributions on time and unconditionally.

The European Union is approaching the coming negotiations in a spirit of openness, ready to listen to any proposals which concur with the three principles I outlined.

By the end of the main session of the 55th General Assembly, it expects the discussions on the two scales to yield significant results, ones which are equitable, sustainable and consensual. The task we are embarking on today is an important one. It is with a sense of purpose that the European Union is coming to it.

Ref: PRES00-241EN
EU source: EU Presidency
UN forum: Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary Affairs)
Date: 3/10/2000

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