EU Presidency Statement - ECOSOC: Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi

Mr President, it is my pleasure to give this statement on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

Mr President, the EU would like to thank the Ad Hoc Advisory Group for its continued interest in Burundi and for its helpful report, which gives a good update on the situation in that country.

The EU welcomes the progress made in Burundi over the past year, in particular: the progress made in the ongoing election process with the holding of communal elections in June and parliamentary elections in July; continuing forward momentum in the DDR process, including army integration, demobilisation and security sector reform; and the return of refugees and IDPs, underpinned by international support. However, issues such as improving food security, preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS and providing support to its victims, strengthening governance and encouraging sound financial management remain critical challenges.

Mr President, the EU agrees with the Ad Hoc Group's recommendation that the international community should continue to provide strong support to the Government of Burundi to meet short and medium term needs, based on the priorities of the PRSP and to finance the CAP for 2005. The EU remains committed to providing assistance for Burundi at this critical time to ensure the foundations are laid for long-term peace and prosperity. However, the EU believes that the modalities of that support should be decided on by the Government with lead donors, and in this regard we are not convinced of the value of the Ad Hoc Group promoting a donor round-table meeting.

The EU believes that, as a matter of principle, all Ad Hoc Groups should have a limited life-span. The EU believes that the Ad Hoc Group on Burundi has played a useful role so far and should continue until the new Government of Burundi is in place. However, the EU believes that a further extension to the mandate should be considered by ECOSOC after that time. An extension to the mandate should also be re-evaluated in the light of developments on the Peacebuilding Commission.

Finally, the EU would like to note that the experience of the Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on Countries Emerging from Conflict could be taken into account in the broader context of ongoing discussions within the UN on the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission.


* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• EU Presidency Declaration on Parliamentary Elections in Burundi (8/7/2005)
• EU Election Observation Mission deployed for Burundi  (14/6/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi (4/2/2005)