EU Presidency Statement - Reform of the Joint Inspection Unit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We would like to thank the Chairman of the JIU, Armando Duque, and the other inspectors for the presentation of their final report on the reform of the Unit. They have done an excellent job in providing us in less than eight weeks after our initial debate in the 5th Committee with a list of proposed actions that take also into account views expressed by the participating organizations.

After the discussions we had in this Committee in the last years about the weaknesses in the work of the JIU, and after reading the reform proposals made in the reports of the Unit, there can be no doubt for this Committee, that changes in the working methods as well as some crucial amendments of the Statute are absolutely necessary in order to achieve what should be our common goal: a strengthened JIU, that is able to fulfil its mandate as the only system-wide external oversight body.

The debate we had in June in the CPC was the turning point after years of complaints. Our request to the JIU, to review its working methods and statute, was taken up by the Chairman and the inspectors in a constructive and forthcoming way. We regret that this Committee did not find the time for further informal discussions on this matter, but the Unit has given us now a list of concrete proposals and ideas, which can be taken up in the remaining sessions.

The EU is of the view that the main problems of the JIU can be addressed by solving three key issues:

1. Mode of selection of new inspectors;
2. Strengthening of the Chairman;
3. Establishing a collective responsibility for the work of the Unit.

As we all know, the selection of new inspectors is a political process, where the required qualifications are only one among other arguments for the selection of candidates. Therefore, if we want to enhance the capacity of the Unit, we should replace the current system by a new one that opens the possibility to apply to all candidates from a specific region.

The second crucial point concerns the role and functions of the Chairman. In the current statute, Article 18 gives him only very limited, merely representative functions. A strong JIU needs clear leadership. The EU will therefore propose that the Chairman shall be elected for a term of office of three years, and that he shall be responsible for the Unit's programme of work and the quality of its reports.

The third weakness we would like to address is the "dual notion of individual and collective responsibility for the reports". If we want the JIU to enhance the quality of its reports and recommendations, we have to make clear that the Unit will act only under collective responsibility. Inspectors who want to present in future their reports should be obliged to meet approved quality standards, certified by the Chairman.

Colleagues,

The EU, as stated already on the 7th of October, is prepared to discuss with all other delegations the reform of the JIU. There are only some sessions remaining this year, but this should be no excuse for not achieving the reform. The proposals of the JIU are on the table, many of them have been discussed for a long time, now is the moment to take action.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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