EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform

Informal Consultations of the Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly on Secretariat and Management Reform; Statement by Minister Alexander Marschik, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, on behalf of the EU, New York

• The EU welcomes the progress already made in reforming the management of the United Nations; a process which aims at ensuring ethical conduct, strengthening oversight and accountability, improving management performance and increasing transparency.
  
• Today's briefing focuses on a crucial element of this task, namely the review of the budgetary, financial and human resources regulations, rules and policies of the organisation. This review has been mandated by the World Summit 2005 with the long overdue objective of making the organisation more capable of acting effectively in today's world.
  
  
• During its recent history the UN has experienced unprecedented change in scope and growth in volume of its operations. The demands on the organisation are increasingly complex and require highly responsive and professional management as well as a skilled and versatile workforce.
  
• The UN will have to be made "fit" for the challenges it is facing. We recognise this need and look forward with great interest to receive the proposals of the SG in areas he considers most suitable for further improvement.
  
• This review does not need to be controversial. It should strengthen the United Nations for the benefit of all member states. As Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated when he introduced the budget last year in the 5th Committee: "Good management is in the interest of everybody. Bad management serves no-one".
  
  
• For the EU the question of flexibility, performance and accountability of UN management is something we need to see reflected prominently in the report. The General Assembly has already given clear guidance in paragraph 11 of its resolution on questions relating to the proposed programme budget 2006-2007, where the need for the Secretary General's discretion in budgetary implementation and for clear accountability mechanisms has been recognised.
  
• New and innovative ideas on the management of human resources and proposals on streamlining administrative processes are also a high priority for the EU, keeping in mind that an efficient, effective and transparent Secretariat is in the interest of both, member states and UN staff.
  
• The EU is also interested to learn more about the proposed one-time staff buy-out.
  
• In the field of Information and Communication Technology we would like to reiterate our request for a well coordinated and transparent ICT strategy. In this context, the establishment of a position of Chief Information Officer, who ensures that these objectives are met, is worth exploring.
  
  
• The Heads of State and Government have already agreed on a precise schedule of work, namely to come to a decision by the end of March 2006.
  
• On the review of rules and regulations we should be ready to give strategic guidance on the proposals of the Secretary-General without undue delay.
  
• We assume that the upcoming report will trigger a continuing process of reform, requiring a series of proposals to be elaborated in detail and presented to us in due time.
  
• While the role and responsibilities of the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee should be respected throughout this process, we firmly believe that strategic decisions need to be taken at the political level.
  
  
  
  • Ref: PRES06-016EN
  • EU source: EU Presidency
  • UN forum: General Assembly (including Special Sessions)
  • Date: 30/1/2006

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• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Estimates in respect of special political missions (21/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee: Standardized Access Control (14/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN Management Reform  (7/3/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - Secretariat and Management Reform  (15/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform  (7/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - Informal Consultations on ECOSOC Reform  (30/1/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - Mandate Review  (25/1/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - ECOSOC Reform (13/1/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review: UN General Assembly Consultations (14/12/2005)