EU Presidency Statement - Human Resources Management

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, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the Associated Countries: Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as the EFTA Countries of the European Economic Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway align themselves with this statement.

The European Union would like to thank the Secretariat for the reports put before this Committee on Human Resources Management, as contained in documents A/57/16, A/57/30, A/57/126, A/57/276, A/57/293, A/57/310, A/57/413 and A/57/414 as well as A/56/227, A/56/512, A/56/701, A/56/816, A/56/834 and A/56/956.

The European Union would also like to thank the ACABQ for its recommendations contained in document A/57/469 with which we generally concur. We have a number of specific issues, which we would like to come back to in the course of the negotiations.

Mr. Chairman,

At the 55th session of the General Assembly, we agreed to reform Human Resources Management in the United Nations. The successful implementation of this reform is a high European Union priority.

The European Union notes that considerable progress has been achieved in furthering human resources management reform in the global Secretariat, and that activities will continue with a view to consolidating and strengthening human resources policies and procedures.

We agree with the Secretary-General that emphasis should be placed on using the human resources function as a strategic tool to drive organizational change and to create the organizational culture envisaged by the Member States and the Secretary-General.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union urges the Secretary-General to continue the implementation of the reform policies and programmes, based on the fundamental principles of responsibility and accountability, transparency, equity and fairness, and efficiency and effectiveness.

As proposed by the ACABQ, the European Union is of the view that the Secretary-General should be requested to report to the 59th session of the General Assembly in a comprehensive manner on the implementation of the human resources management reform.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - UN Common System (8/11/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Strengthening of the UN system (30/10/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - The Safety of UN and Associated Personnel (1/10/2002)