EU Council Conclusions on UN Reform

EU Council Conclusions on UN Reform, 2770th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting, Brussels

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

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1. The Council recalls its conclusions adopted on 10 April 2006 on the UN World Summit follow-up and reaffirms its commitment to ensure that the reforms agreed at the Summit are fully and urgently implemented.

2. During the sixtieth session, the UN General Assembly agreed on a number of measures to reinforce the Organisation. The follow-up of the implementation of those decisions needs to be assured and carefully monitored. In particular, the Council stresses the EU's commitment to the work of the newly established Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council, and to implement the development commitments of the Summit. Progress in these areas will enable the UN to continue to make a genuine contribution to the achievement of lasting peace, the protection and promotion of human rights as well as sustainable development.

3. The Council recognises the need to reform the main UN bodies, among them the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Security Council, with a view to enhancing the representativeness, transparency and efficiency of the system. For its part the EU will engage actively in constructive dialogue to advance all the reforms agreed at the UN World Summit. The Council furthermore welcomes the adoption of GA resolution on the reform of ECOSOC and encourages all Members of the United Nations to make full use of the new opportunities offered by a strengthened ECOSOC to discharge its redefined functions

4. The Council welcomes the report by the UN Panel on System-wide Coherence and looks forward to the Secretary-General's comments and proposals on the implementation of the Panel's recommendations. The EU considers it important to engage all UN Member States and other stakeholders in active discussion of the Report's recommendations and to agree on measures that will strengthen the UN's capacity to deliver as one in the areas of development, humanitarian assistance, the environment and the achievement of the MDG's. The Council also welcomes the progress towards the establishment of the "One UN" country pilots.

5. The Council also stresses the importance of the full implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and reiterates its commitment to reaching an agreement on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) as soon as possible.

6. Management reform is crucial to achieving a more efficient and more effective UN. The Council supports the steps already taken to improve the management of the Organisation, including the creation of an Ethics Office in the Secretariat. The Council underlines the need for Member States to continue to engage constructively to secure further results in the equally important areas of human resources management, procurement reform and governance and oversight.

7. The Council underlines the importance of the Mandate Review as necessary in order to ensure that the UN's resources are matched to its priorities. The Council emphasizes that Mandate Review is neither a cost-cutting exercise nor intended to reduce the activity of the UN or to put into question the priorities set by the General Assembly. The Council invites all Member States to contribute positively and flexibly to the process underway to secure agreement on the way forward on Mandate review, and to engage actively in the review process itself.

8. The Council pays tribute to the outstanding efforts of the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in successfully managing a difficult and complex reform phase. The Council has highly valued Mr Annan's leadership and vision during the past ten years and would like to thank him for his ceaseless work for the principles of the UN Charter as well as his courage in the much-needed transformation of the World Organisation. The Council also thanks the successive Presidents of the General Assembly for their vital role in support of reform during this period.

9. The Council warmly welcomes the appointment of Mr Ban Ki-Moon as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations and commits its full support to him in his new challenging task of leading an effective and efficient World Organisation towards its objectives of peace and security, development and human rights, including by pursuing UN reform."

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• EU Presidency Statement - Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Report of the Secretary-General  (13/12/2006)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions (11/12/2006)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (11/12/2006)
• EU Presidency General Statement - ECOSOC Resumed Substantive Session, 46th Meeting; Agenda Item 12: Non-governmental organizations (11/12/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Partnerships towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (27/11/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Follow-up to outcomes of major UN conferences and summits in economic, social and related fields (20/11/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Mandate Review  (19/6/2006)
• Speech by EU Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas: "Strengthening Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century - the EU, UN and Management Reform"  (17/5/2006)