EU Speaking Points - Mandate Review

Informal Consultations of the Plenary of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Mandate Review; Statement by Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, on behalf of the EU, New York

• The review of mandates is a long overdue exercise that will help us to avoid overlap and duplications and will ensure the most efficient and effective implementation of the UN mandates.
  
• The review does not put into question the priorities set by the General Assembly, but on the contrary could free up resources in order to promote these priorities.
  
• This is neither a cost-cutting exercise nor intended to reduce the activity of the UN; the mandate review shall strengthen the organisation for the benefit of all member states.
  
  
• We welcome the progress report presented by the Co-Chairs on 11 January. The guiding principles governing the mandate review and the format of the listing reflect accurately our previous discussions.
  
• We welcome the template that has been presented to us by the Secretariat. The EU is ready to accept the template as the basis for the upcoming report, with the understanding that all fields, including the ones for the UN implementing entities, outputs and resource indications, are filled in, where possible.
  
  
• We believe it would be extremely helpful if the Secretariat report would both give insight in mandates on a cluster-by-cluster basis and on an organ-by-organ basis.
  
• We assume that the vast majority of mandates will be found in the category five years and older and not reaffirmed. Is there any way to further distinguish these mandates, e.g. by their level of activity, in order to facilitate the review?
  
• As requested in the Summit Outcome Document we expect the report to contain a comprehensive analysis and recommendations on which the General Assembly can base its policy decisions.
  
• We appreciate the daunting and complex task that we have asked the Secretariat to undertake. It will be instrumental for success if the information can be cast in a form that is accessible and manageable.
  
• Full cooperation/support of the Secretariat will be essential to prepare and carry out this review throughout the Organisation.
  
  
• We are looking forward to the report on mandate review expected by the end of February. We stand ready to start the discussion of this report as soon as possible.
  
• For the EU the negotiation process in the Plenary must be inclusive and transparent and should not be approached with preconceptions of any kind.
  
• The review of mandates is not a one-time undertaking, but a continuing process. We hope to achieve first results as soon as possible. We pledge to make all efforts to ensure the success of this undertaking.
  
  
  • Ref: PRES06-013EN
  • EU source: EU Presidency
  • UN forum: General Assembly (including Special Sessions)
  • Date: 25/1/2006

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• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review (22/11/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Review of Mandates (11/10/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Mandate Review  (19/6/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review (14/6/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review (5/6/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review  (8/5/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review, Cluster F and H  (26/4/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review (25/4/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Public Meeting on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (22/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform (30/1/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Mandate Review: UN General Assembly Consultations (14/12/2005)