Summary: EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Fifth Committee Programme of Work (7 May 2007: New York)
Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Mr. Peter Woeste, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany, on Programme of Work at the 5th Committee, United Na-tions General Assembly, New York
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
I would like to welcome you back, Mr. Chairman, and the other members of the Bu-reau, as well as the Committee's Secretariat. The European Union is looking forward to work-ing closely with you and all delegations during this very busy session.
Mr. Chairman,
Let me at the outset express our deep concern over the fact that some very important reports of the Secretariat and of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions will be missing until the last part of the session. We are aware of the ever increas-ing workload facing the Secretariat and the ACABQ but must reiterate that the timely avail-ability of reports is essential if this Committee is to perform its functions.
Mr. Chairman,
The May session is particularly devoted to the financing of United Nations peacekeep-ing operations which is a priority area for the European Union. We also place an equally high priority on the successful conclusion of our deliberations on the DPKO restructuring and the governance and oversight reform. Let me briefly touch upon these three main themes of our agenda in a chronological order.
We will first deal with governance and oversight reforms. There, we are looking for-ward to the introduction of the reports of the SG and the ACABQ. A well-established man-date and the effective functioning of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee as well as the strengthening of the operational independence of the Office of Internal Oversight Services are one of our main priorities. We look forward to taking early decisions on these most impor-tant issues.
Second to be considered during this session is the peacekeeping portfolio, including a large number of large-scale and complex missions. The European Union has always attached great importance to peacekeeping as a core function of the Organization. We have actively supported the strengthening of this activity and will continue to do what is necessary to ensure that UN peacekeeping is effective and serves the needs of international peace and security. But efficient budgeting and sound management
must go hand in hand with our political and financial commitment. We will examine the budgets of the peacekeeping missions with the view to provide them with adequate financing. Parallel to the discussions on individual Peace-keeping budgets, we hope to reach agreement on a cross-cutting resolution.
Finally, we will consider the Secretary General's proposals to strengthen the capacity of the organisation to manage and sustain peace operations. The Committee will receive the reports on the restructuring of DPKO as requested by the General Assembly. I already men-tioned that the EU expresses its deep concern for the late submission of the related reports as a factor constraining the work of the Fifth Committee. The sooner we receive the reports the better so as to consider those reports
thoroughly and to be able to come to a conclusion during this second resumed session. It is key that the Committee translates the political will of the General Assembly as expressed in the framework resolution of 15 March 2007 into sound reform measures.
Mr. Chairman,
We have highly important issues to deal with in the coming four weeks. We are confi-dent that with hard work, constructive dialogue and harmonious cooperation we will be able to conclude our deliberations in a timely manner and with satisfactory results. We welcome the positive example of the first resumed session, where the Committee managed to complete its agenda successfully with minimal meetings held outside regular working hours.
The EU stands ready to contribute the best of its efforts in this regard.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabili-sation and Associa-tion Process.
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