EU Presidency Statement - UN Common System

EU Presidency Statement on Item 131: United Nations common system by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations on behalf of the European Union, Fifth Committee, United Nations, New York

Mr Chairman,

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

The EU would like to thank Mr Qazi Shaukat Fareed, Director of the CEB Secretariat, for the introduction of document A/60/209, and Mr Bel Hadj Amor, Chairman of the ICSC, for his introduction of its report. We also thank Ms Sharon Van Buerle, Acting Budget Director, and Mr Rajat Saha, Acting Chairman of the ACABQ, for the introduction of their respective reports on the financial implications of the ICSC's recommendations.

Mr Chairman,

The EU attaches great importance to the effective functioning of the Common System which is the sole instrument for establishing the pay and benefits package for UN employees system wide. In this regard, the EU further attaches importance to the Noblemaire principle. We acknowledge that the staff of the UN constitute its most important asset. As such, fair remuneration for UN staff, who often perform their duties in difficult and dangerous circumstances, is key to the functioning of the United Nations.

In this respect, we stress the importance of the ICSC contributing to the creation of a results-oriented organisation that focuses on high performance, continuous learning and managerial excellence.

Turning to the ICSC's annual report, we welcome the ongoing review of pay and benefits. We are concerned, however, to read that there seems to be a difference of opinion between the ICSC and the participating organisations on how to proceed with the pilot studies. We trust that all participating organisations will quickly iron-out these differences so that it will prove possible for the ICSC to carry-out in due course an accurate assessment of the impact and future workability of the pilot projects.

Last year the EU called upon all participating partners to co-operate and seek common ground regarding the streamlining of contractual arrangements. We note with appreciation that this has happened and that the present proposal of the ICSC is acceptable to the Human Resources Network and Staff Associations. Giving staff more career predictability in terms of contracts can only be beneficial for the organisation and in keeping staff motivated. The EU stands ready to take a decision at this session on implementing the new contractual arrangements which, in our view, are long overdue.

We take note of the proposals of the ICSC with regard to hazard pay, entitlements of internationally recruited staff serving in non-family duty stations and the base/floor salary scale, as well as the financial implications arising from these decisions. We will revert to these issues, together with some of the others raised by the Commission, in the informal consultations.

Mr Chairman,

The EU welcomes the update on the Senior Management Network contained in document A/60/209. We consider this system-wide leadership programme to be an essential instrument for building managerial and leadership capacity, strengthening partnerships and enhancing mobility throughout the system, as well as creating a common managerial culture. We welcome the reiteration that this will not result in the creation of a separate category of staff or new positions. We look forward to receiving more information on the Network during our discussions.

Another issue before us, deferred from previous sessions, is the Report of the Panel on Strengthening of the International Civil Service, and the comments thereon by the SG and the ICSC. The EU maintains that the Panel made some pertinent, yet modest, recommendations for maximizing the impact of the ICSC's work and for strengthening and modernising the ICSC itself. The EU will work constructively towards a conclusion to this issue during the current session.

Thank you.


* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Programme Budget for Biennium 2004-05: Lifting recruitment suspension of General Service category (18/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - 5th Committee: Programme of Work (10/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Board of Auditors  (10/10/2005)