EU Presidency Statement - The IAEA Board of Governors

Sumario: March 12, 2002: EU Statement at the IAEA Board of Governors 18-21 March 2002). Item 8: Planning for the Programme and Budget for 2004-2005.

Mr. Chairman:

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following candidate countries associate themselves with this statement: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Turkey.

Among the objectives of the Secretariat for the Programme and Budget 2004-2005, set out in document GOV/2000/13 we are currently discussing, appears:

"To ensure the relevance, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of the management of all the Agency's programmes and activities in terms of human and financial resources"

As already mentioned on prior occasions, the EU believes that a single currency system based on the euro in the IAEA would substantially contribute to improve the transparency, effectiveness and efficiency in the IAEA'S management of its financial resources.

In this sense, in the informal meeting of the Programme and Budget Committee, which took place on last January 21st, the EU made public its intention to start consultations with the Secretariat and interested Parties in order to present its arguments in favour of the change, and to gather opinions on the subject. Numerous consultations have since then taken place and I wish to express on behalf of the EU our gratitude for the comments and ideas we have received. These have been very useful in our internal reflection process and for the elaboration of a specific proposal.

As the EU Memorandum - already distributed to Member States and available in this room - presents detailed argumentation in favour of the change to the euro, I will only read its conclusions, which include our proposal:

"The introduction of the euro, which has created a new financial environment, provides the Agency with an opportunity to improve its effectiveness, efficiency and transparency. In this respect, the EU is of the opinion that the introduction of a single currency system based on the euro would be to the benefit of the IAEA as well as that of its Member States.

We recognise nevertheless the need for a study by the Secretariat on this issue before any final decision can be taken. The study should analyse the budgetary, operational, financial and legal implications of the adoption of the euro as base currency in the IAEA and should include recommendations to the Board of Governors.

On the basis of the above mentioned considerations, the EU invites the Board of Governors to adopt the following decision: "In connection with the Planning for the Programme and Budget 2004-2005, the Board of Governors requests the Director General to present a report to the next Board on the budgetary, operational, financial and legal impacts of the possible adoption of a euro based financial system. The report should include the formulation of appropriate recommendations".

The EU is confident that this proposal will count with the support of the Board of Governors.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ref: PRES02-029EN
Fuente UE: Presidencia de la UE
Foro NU: Otros
Fecha: 12/3/2002

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