EU Presidency Statement - Office of Internal Oversight Services

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Associated Countries - Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as the EFTA countries of the European Economic Area - Iceland and Norway align themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

May I first of all through you thank Under-Secretary-General Dileep Nair for the submission by the Office of Internal Oversight Services of some very important reports. I would also like to thank Mr. Nair for being present here today and yesterday and for introducing the reports.

I would secondly like to stress the importance that the European Union attaches to the role of the Office and express our appreciation of its contributions to improving the functioning of the Organisation.

The reports on Management in the Department of Disarmament Affairs, on Management in ECLAC and on IMIS contain a large number of recommendations. The European Union is ready to discuss these recommendations in informal consultations, although at this stage we would like to plead - as we have done before - for an increased use of critical recommendations. In other words, a plea for a reduction of the number of recommendations to the extent possible.

Mr. Chairman,

On the Audit of INSTRAW, we are aware of the huge problems of the Institute. The European Union especially takes note of the observation by OIOS whether the Institute is capable of being viable and self-sustaining in the long run.

The European Union welcomes the report on policies for recruiting staff for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We note with appreciation that, in broad terms, it appeared that the principle of geographical distribution of candidates selected by DPKO for appointment to posts approved by the General Assembly on an emergency basis was applied adequately. But we also concur with the observation by OIOS that further improvement should be achieved. The European Union also notes with satisfaction the efforts by DPKO to address the gender balance issue and the recommendation of OIOS thereon.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - SG report on Office of Internal Oversight Services (23/10/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Office of Internal Oversight Services Report (23/10/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Report of the OIOS (8/11/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Programme planning (5/11/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Budget for the Biennium 2002-2003 (21/10/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Office of Internal Oversight Services (5/11/2001)