EU Presidency Statement - Human Resources Management

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. 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 and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

The European Union would like to thank the Secretariat for the introduction of the reports put before this Committee on Human Resources Management.

The European Union would also like to convey its thanks to the chairman of the ACABQ for the Committee's recommendations with which we generally concur. We consider the ACABQ has carried out an in-depth evaluation of the reform process, and the new proposals, and recommended pragmatic action-orientated recommendations.

We thank Mr. Dileep Nair for his introduction of the report of the OIOS on the impact of HRM reform. This comprehensive report usefully assesses the stage already reached and identifies some of the challenges that remain for the Secretariat in implementing and refining further the human resources management reforms.

We also thank the Chairman of the JIU for the introduction of its report.

Mr. Chairman,

At the 55th session of the General Assembly, guided by the excellent proposals of the Secretary General, we agreed to reform Human Resources Management in the United Nations. The organisation has benefited greatly from the reform and we appreciate the ongoing efforts to perfect it.

In this session, we will focus again on questions relating to Human Resources Management as this is a personel year. The UN needs the best HRM policies in order to be able to face new challenges and to preserve and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation. This is of great importance to the EU. We believe that the staff is the most valuable asset of the organisation.

As we have stated on earlier occasions, we agree with the Secretary-General that emphasis should be placed on using the human resources function as a strategic tool to drive organisational change and to create the organisational culture envisaged both by the Member States and the Secretary-General. We take this opportunity to underline that the reform of human resource management is a process and that many positive decisions and policies have already been adopted. As we look ahead to the many useful proposals before us in this session we also wish to emphasise the need to consolidate and fully implement those decisions already taken.

We welcome the omnibus report A/59/263, which not only describes achievements and results to date but also addresses planned future activities. The EU pays tribute to the goals presented in this report on the recruitment process so as to develop a more versatile and multi-skilled international civil service and to select staff on the basis of merit, demonstrated competencies and performance.

We recognise with appreciation that considerable progress has been made and the proposed future activities will aim at further consolidation and strengthening reform policies and streamlining procedures.

In this respect we support entirely the comments made by the OIOS and ACABQ about the further development of mobility which we are convinced will lead to a more flexible and multi-skilled workforce. Also, we agree with the ACABQ that the Secretariat should address more comprehensively the issue of rejuvenating the Secretariat. This must be driven forward in a much more proactive manner and cannot simply be considered a by-product of the wider reform process.

Mr. Chairman,

The SG has presented a number of reports under this agenda item with the recommendation that the GA take note of them. The EU recalls that this had been common practice in the Committee and would welcome a return to this former practice. We stand ready to act accordingly; to avoid micro management and to focus on those issues that need intergovernmental decisions.

On those actions proposed by the SG, the EU stands ready to participate in the negotiations.

In response to the GA's request in Res/57/300 to submit a study on ways to promote GS staff to P posts, we have now before us a detailed request to expand the career opportunities for GS. The EU is prepared to seriously consider this request.

The EU welcomes the proposals to streamline contractual arrangements which currently seem multiple, unwieldy and difficult to manage. The proposed framework encompassing three types of contracts, continuing, fixed and short-term contracts seem to give the Secretariat the right tools for further successful implementation of HRM reform. It will also streamline administrative procedures. We will seek further clarification on the modalities of the introduction of such a system including its short-term effects and its time fame.

We are aware of the ongoing efforts by the ICSC to elaborate on a system-wide framework for contractual relations. We assume that any system that the GA might put in place this autumn for the UN could serve as a blueprint for the ICSC model.

The EU welcomes in principle the proposal to reduce the deadline to react to vacancy announcements from 60 to 45 days, which could make a substantial contribution to reducing the recruitment period.

With regard to the proposals regarding 100-300 series appointments for staff in field missions, the EU is grateful to the Secretariat for its proposals and stands ready to discuss these in details in the informal consultations.

The EU has taken note of the proposals to improve recruitment for un- and underrepresented countries. We will seek further information on the proposed fast track procedure.

We welcome the proposal to establish focal points to facilitate collaboration between the Office of Human Resources Management and unrepresented and underrepresented Member States and will positively consider this suggestion.

Mr Chairman,

The European Union welcomes the proposed actions presented in A/59/263/Add.2 on improving gender distribution in the Secretariat. The European Union urges the Secretary-General to further continue his efforts to achieve gender balance as well as to improve policies, procedures and programmes.

Finally, Mr Chairman,

The European Union urges the Secretary-General to continue the implementation of the reform policies and programmes, based on the fundamental principles of responsibility and accountability, transparency, equity and fairness, and efficiency and effectiveness.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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