Summary: March 17, 2005: STATEMENT TO THE 5TH COMMITTEE - PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2004-2005: REVIEWS OF THE REGULAR PROGRAMME OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT BY KARL VAN DEN BOSSCHE, FIRST SECRETARY, ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (New York)
Mr. Chairman,
The EU would like to approach the issue contained in document A/59/397 in a comprehensive way, taking into account that the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation and the Development Account are the main instruments for the Secretariat to contribute to the capacity-building of developing countries. We welcome programmes, that clearly assist developing countries in their real needs.
We note with satisfaction that the Development Account is well managed; no substantial changes are required in the way it operates while more problems are encountered in case of the RPTC, which deserve our attention.
The report before us presents a number of proposals that intend to clarify the objectives, criteria and operating modalities of the RPTC as well as the funding modalities of the Development Account. More needs to be done to assess and monitor the real impact of the DA; a system with clear criteria must be developed to monitor the conduct of a programme and its real impact on the development of a country. We must assure that those funds are used to achieve tangible development goals.
While assuring our full cooperation in discussing these and other issues, the EU would like to note that many aspects of the RPTC and DA in the report, are elements of the overall policy of the Secretariat in its support to developing countries. Therefore, in order to take sound decisions on this issue we need to be aware of their implications and impact on the activities of the Secretariat in the field of development. A useful input could come from the second committee and the CPC.
More generally, the report of the Secretary General that will be issued in the coming days - and the consequent decisions and actions that will presumably be taken in September - could contain elements regarding the organization of the Secretariat vis-à-vis the issue of development. This could oblige us to reconsider the matter at the 60th session and in the context of the budget for 2006-2007.
In the meantime we are ready to consider the proposals contained in sections VI, VII and VIII of the report of the Secretary General and we see a certain rationale in the proposal by the ACABQ to discuss the possible consolidation of budget sections 23 and 35 in the context of the proposed programme-budget 2006-2007.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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