Summary: July 21, 2003: Statement by the Representative of Italy on behalf of the European Union. Item 13 (a) of the Agenda: Sustainable Development - Report of the Committee for Development Policy. Substantive Session of ECOSOC (GENEVA, 30 JUNE - 25 JULY 2003)
Mrs. Vice-President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the countries associated with the EU - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey - have aligned themselves with this statement.
The report of the Committee for Development Policies has to be commended for its quality and for bringing to our attention issues that need to be debated among the membership. I will not refer to the part regarding rural development since this aspect was discussed extensively during the Ministerial segment. I am referring to two other issues that are very much relevant to the EU.
The first is related to Global Public Goods and the Committee's deliberations on the concept of GPGs and its potential for generating a better formulation of effective, efficient and equitable ways of development.
In the past two years the European Union has strongly advocated a discussion on GPGs at the substantive session of the ECOSOC, also taking into consideration the debates at the Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Committee's suggestion in the report makes a good contribution to the on-going debate on this issue particularly with regard to the need for accelerated progress towards meeting the international development goals, including the
MDGs.
Mrs. Vice-President,
On the Review of the list of Least Developing Countries, the report contains a number of important findings and recommendation that should be part of an accurate debate and analysis. The EU has consistently taken measures to support LDC development efforts. Recognition of least developed country as qualified for graduation should be seen as a very positive, encouraging sign that poverty can be defeated and development policies can be successful.
The whole international community needs success stories and signs of hope. It's clear for us that these successes, as the report underlines, should be attributed largely to sound domestic policies supported by propitious external conditions. While we all rejoice in the achievements of countries in a position to be graduated, we are at the same time conscious of the need to ensure a smooth transition.
The Committee is calling upon the international community to give urgent attention to this matter. We share this opinion and we believe that there is a need to address, with a defined deadline and with the involvement of WTO, donor community as well as the BWIs and other regional organizations, the possible issues related to the smooth transition in order to identify solutions to be applied to all countries being in a position to be graduated. Countries in a position to be graduated should have
a clear picture of the situation in the transition period.
Graduating a country and only then tackling the issues related to the transition would not be logical. There is an urgent need to address expeditiously these issues. They should be tackled by all parties concerned including governments, in consultation with the WTO, the donor community, as well as the BWIs and other regional organizations.
Mrs. Vice-President,
The Committee is recommending the inclusion of East Timor in the list of LDCs. East Timor is a young country that joined the UN last year. Its economic and social conditions justify and qualify the country for inclusion among the LDCs. The European Union is in favor of this recommendation and has decided to co-sponsor the draft decision presented by Brazil in order to act on this specific aspect of the report of the Committee.
Regarding the other recommendations, we have understood, since the preliminary informal consultations held in NY and Geneva, that other partners wish to return to these issues at one of the resumed sessions of ECOSOC. In taking note of this request, we want to make clear that the European Union wishes to follow up the report of the Committee, in particular regarding the proposed meeting of experts with a clear and time bound mandate to examine the issues related to the smooth transition.
Finally, Mrs. Vice-President, it is important to underline that what is at stake here is not only the credibility of the activity of the Committee; there is at stake the credibility of the ECOSOC and its ability to take decisions and move the process forward.
Thank you.
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