EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Position: Financing for Development

EU Presidency Explanation of Position by the UK Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, on the final draft resolution L.72, Financing for Development, United Nations General Assembly 60th Session, Second Committee, New York

"The EU is pleased to join consensus on resolution L.72 as amended. We attach great importance to the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, and are pleased to have played our part this year in building on our the Monterrey commitments.

The EU is pleased that in this GA we have agreed part of the modalities for the review Conference - including what it will consist of - in line with GA resolution 57/270B. We have also narrowed down the timing: our preference for a conference in 2009 is well known.

We look forward to discussions in the 61st General Assembly to further develop the modalities and preparations for the conference. We welcome the generous offer from Qatar in this regard. We do believe that, as set out in resolution 57/270B, follow-up and review of UN conferences should take place as far as possible within existing UN institutions.

The EU regrets that a large number of amendments were brought very late to this resolution, including on issues such as ODA timetables on which we have made particular progress this year. We hope that we can avoid this approach in the future.

Finally, the EU would like to thank the facilitator, the G77 and other negotiators for their efforts etc "

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Financing for Development (15/9/2005)
• Speech by EU Commission President Barroso - Financing for Development (14/9/2005)
• European Commissioners Michel and Mandelson to participate in UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development in NY (27/6/2005)