EU Presidency Statement - UN Common System

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, 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.

At the outset, the European Union would like to thank the Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission, Mr. Bel Hadj Amor, for having introduced the Report of the Commission for the year 2002, contained in document A/57/30. We also express our appreciation to the Deputy Secretary-General for presenting the statement of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, contained in document A/C.5/57/16.

We also thank the representative of the Secretariat for introducing the statement submitted by the Secretary-General in document A/57/450, as well as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for its related report, contained in document A/57/7/Add.9.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union has stated on many occasions - and most recently in our statement in connection with the plenary debate on the Secretary-General's initiatives to further strengthen the organisation - its strong conviction that the staff of the United Nations constitutes the Organisation's most valuable asset.

The European Union is also convinced that the United Nations Common System remains the key instrument in ensuring that the Organisation continues to attract the people best qualified and suited to carry out the difficult tasks required of it. The conditions of service at the United Nations must, therefore, remain competitive, with clear prospects of advancement within the Organisation for those who have displayed the requisite ability and skills to progress, a clearer definition of what those competencies are, and a performance appraisal system implemented system-wide. In this respect, the European Union supports the primacy of the International Civil Service Commission in modernising the Common System to reflect the changing needs of the United Nations, and its staff, in the 21st Century.

However, it is important that the ICSC itself remains open to change if it is to retain its lead role in modernising the Common System. The European Union, therefore, eagerly looks forward to receiving details of the membership of the Committee formed to review the ICSC, the first such review in over 25 years of its being, as well as the timetable for completion of the review by 2004.

Mr. Chairman,

I now turn to the report by the International Civil Service Commission before us and to some of the recommendations included in it.

The European Union agrees with the recommendation of the ICSC, contained in paragraph 141 (a) and (b) of its report, to adjust the maximum admissible levels for expenditures covered under the education grant system and the maximum education grant, in the countries or currency areas specified. Furthermore, the European Union approves of the recommendation, in paragraph 141 (c), to revise the flat rates for boarding and the additional amounts for reimbursement of boarding costs.

As regards the remaining recommendations, particularly that of a differentiated real increase of the salary scale to restore the overall margin to the desirable, but not obligatory, mid-point of 115, the European Union would want to seek some further clarification before taking a final decision.

Mr. Chairman,

In particular, we believe it would be helpful if the ICSC could clarify the situation regarding the pay increase of the comparator, which has prompted the reduction in the margin. Also, the issue of when the proposed salary increase will take effect needs to be further clarified.

Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the European Union, I must stress that this information, together with exact figures, is essential if we are to accurately consider the recommendations now before us, and assess the financial implications for next year's budget.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Strengthening of the UN system (30/10/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Human Resources Management (28/10/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Improving the UN financial situation  (25/10/2002)