EU Presidency Statement - Common System

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia , the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

The EU would like to thank the vice-Chairman of the ICSC for his introduction of its report. We also thank Mr. Belov for the statement about the financial implications of the ICSC's recommendations.

The Common System is the sole instrument for establishing the pay and benefit package for the UN employees, system wide. Therefore, the EU attributes great importance to the functioning of the system and the application of its methods and procedures. The EU is committed to establishing a fair remuneration of UN staff who often perform their duties in difficult and dangerous circumstances.

Mr. Chairman,

The EU welcomes the start of the pilot studies on broad banding and pay for performance and appreciates the efforts made by the ICSC and those organisations which have volunteered to participate. The EU wishes to underline the importance of this exercise, which is an integral part of HRM reform. We look forward to receiving regular updates during the three-year period.

The EU appreciates the efforts by the ICSC to contribute to the debate regarding streamlining of contractual arrangements. We recognise the valuable work done so far. However, the EU also takes note of the comments by the Human Resources Network on the ICSC-proposals. We understand there is some difference of opinion on the nature and timing of the ICSC proposals but we also recognise that on the principle of the framework there is no difference of opinion. Therefore, the EU wishes to call upon all participating partners to co-operate constructively and to seek common ground.

We have taken note of the proposals by the ICSC with financial implications with regard to hazard pay, the education grant, adjustments to the floor/base salary and the survey of best prevailing conditions of employment for GS and related categories in Madrid. We will revert to those issues in the informal consultations.

Mr. Chairman,

The EU recognises that the ICSC has taken note of the progress report on the Senior Management Service. The EU welcomes and endorses the establishment, by the Chief Executives Board, of the Service. We consider it a critical component of HRM reform and one, which will ultimately lead to the improvement of organisational performance by enhancing professionalism, leadership and creating a common managerial culture. Our understanding is that the creation of the SMS does not in itself mean a new category of staff, nor a change in the terms and conditions of service of these staff. We would welcome clarification of this.

Mr. Chairman,

Finally, let me turn to the report of the Panel on the Strengthening of the ICSC. We thank Ms Bertini for her comments on the issue. The Panel's report offers valuable advice and makes many pertinent recommendations on how to further improve the functioning of the Commission. The EU endorses many of these recommendations and is keen to take them forward. We take note of the comments of the ICSC Commissioners on the Panel's recommendations. We will seek more clarifications and information in informal consultations and offer some thoughts and propose some actions on the way forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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