EU Speaking Points - GA Revitalization

Ad Hoc Working Group on General Assembly Revitalization, 2nd Session; Statement by Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union.

Distinguished Co-chairs,

• 
  
• On behalf of the European Union I would like to thank you for convening this second meeting of the ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the GA.
  
  
• We believe the debate on 16 February was highly useful in identifying the issues that we should focus on in our work.
  
  
• We thank the Secretariat for the background note and implementation chart concerning GA resolutions 58/126, 58/316 and 59/313 as a helpful tool for our future work.
  
  
• As stated in this background note, the revitalization of the GA has been an ongoing process over the last 15 years. While this fact underlines our efforts and commitment to this important issue we now ought to make a decisive step forward. Indeed, many measures of a structural nature, such as additional posts for the Office of the President of the GA, elections of the Main Committee's bureaux or Secretariat services have already been implemented according to the background note. Yet we should not be complacent but focus our work on what has been partially implemented, such as rationalizing the agendas of Main Committees, using optical scanners, requesting consolidated reports or holding interactive debates. In this context we note with appreciation that the Sixth Committee held an interactive debate on the report of the International Law Commission. We should also find ways to ensure the implementation of measures outlined in GA resolutions 58/126, 58/316 and 59/313 which have not yet been put into practice at all.
  
  
• Let me briefly comment on some of the issues raised during the first consultations.
  
  
• Review of the agenda:
  A shorter agenda should ensure a more in-depth discussion of all the items, so that the GA's decisions may have greater impact. We would welcome a request to the President of the General Assembly to make proposals for further bi- and triennialization, clustering and elimination of agenda items of the customary agenda in consultation with the Secretary-General and with concerned Member States and for consideration by the General Committee.
  Alternatively, we could also consider discussing one delegation's (Liechtenstein) proposal for a "generic agenda" on a long term basis while working with a "seasonal agenda" in the short term.
  
  
• Role and authority of the GA:
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  • The Charter has vested both, the GA and the SC with vital functions to carry out the principles and purposes of the UN. Since the Charter does not foresee any mechanism to interpret or monitor the distribution of competences between the UN's principle organs these organs themselves bear the responsibility for a smooth functioning of the UN. To this end the EU - in line with other delegations - strongly supports initiatives which aim to foster a cooperative relationship between the GA and the Security Council. GA resolutions 58/126, 58/316 and 59/313 foresee measures which greatly enhance such a cooperation. We should now focus on how best to implement these measures.
    
  • The EU would also like to reiterate the importance of associating to the highest degree possible national parliaments, civil society, including NGOs, and the private sector to our work in the UN.
    
  • We believe that the authority of the GA could be enhanced by greater public visibility and transparency.
  
  
  
• Working methods:
  In addition to the EU's proposals of 16 February regarding the improvement of the GA's working methods we could consider requesting the Secretariat for an annual note - similar to the one provided for this discussion - on the implementation status of resolutions on GA revitalization. These updates could help promote the implementation of these resolutions.
  
  
• Role of the President of the GA:
  The EU would like to recall its proposal of an earlier election of the President of the GA in order to make maximum use of the transition period between both Presidents by, inter alia, regular briefings by the incumbent President as well as by the Secretariat.
  
  
• Format of further discussions:
  In order to streamline our inputs and make our discussions as fruitful as possible, we suggest that this ad hoc working group should address the issues in greater detail, perhaps by holding separate meetings on thematic blocks, e.g. on the "Role and authority of the GA", on "Working methods", on the "Review of the agenda" and perhaps also on "Visibility and interaction with the wider public".
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Ref: PRES06-040EN
  • EU source: EU Presidency
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 3/3/2006

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