EU Presidency Statement - UN Management Reform

Report of the Secretary-General "Investing in the United Nations", Statement by Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter, Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN, on behalf of the European Union.


Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,

On behalf of the European Union I would like to thank the Secretary-General for the presentation of his very important report "Investing in the United Nations". This report was mandated by our Heads of State and Government at the World Summit 2005 and will have a decisive impact on the future of our organisation.

We are pleased to see that the review was not done in a business-as-usual approach, but in form of a comprehensive package which has the potential to improve the way this organisation is working.

The EU proposes to treat this report in the same manner as all the other follow-up reports of the World Summit 2005, namely in the framework of informal plenary meetings assisted by two Co-Chairs. Management reform should not be an exception.

The EU does not object to a consideration of the report in the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee. However, the Plenary - as addressee of the report -should have control over the process in order to assess the progress and give guidance to the expert level if needed.

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General

At this stage we are not yet in a position to discuss the substance of the report. We will need to study all proposals carefully, keeping in mind that change needs to be a gradual process. We look forward to a constructive discussion with all member states and in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.

In order to determine the most appropriate course of action on handling the report we would like to request the scheduling of an informal meeting of the Plenary under the guidance of the Co-Chairs for management reform.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Speaking Points - Ad Hoc Working Group on UN General Assembly Revitalization (16/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee: Standardized Access Control (14/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee: Budgetary Implications for the Human Rights Council - Programme and Budgetary Implications (PBI) (6/3/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - GA Revitalization (3/3/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform  (7/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform (30/1/2006)