EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Governance and Oversight

Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Mr. Peter Woeste, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany, on Item 116, 117, 122, 123, 132: Governance and Oversight at the 5th Committee, United Nations General Assembly, New York

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Controller, Mr Warren Sach, for the introduction of the reports and express as well our appreciation for the additional comments made by the Under Secretary-General of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, Ms Inga-Britt Ahlenius.

Furthermore, we wish to thank the Chairman, Mr. Rajat Saha and the other members of the ACABQ, who have produced two reports that structure the main elements of the reform measures in front of us, helping the Fifth Committee to focus on the relevant points.

Mr. Chairman,

The strengthening of oversight has been a priority for the European Union for a long time. In the 60th session we had the opportunity to underline the relevance of enhancing the opera-tional independence of OIOS. In December of last year we emphasized the importance of put-ting the Independent Audit Advisory Committee into operation. An effective, respected over-sight function comprising audit, inspection, evaluation and investigations, serves both the interests of the organization internally and strengthens its credibility externally.

Mr. Chairman,

We welcome the Secretary General's report and the considerations of the ACABQ on the re-vised Terms of Reference for the IAAC. They reflect by and large the discussions we have had during the previous months with the members of the Secretariat and with delegates of all groups to create a body to assist the General Assembly in discharging its oversight responsi-bilities. Most important for us, however, is getting the right result. We must be sure we are establishing a body that will add real value to the oversight process - value that will only be added if we make the criteria for membership of this expert body strict, and develop water-tight procedures for ensuring prospective members meet those criteria. We look forward to exploring the possibilities in this and other areas, and resolving the few remaining differences, during the deliberations ahead.

Closely related to the implementation of the IAAC is the question of funding arrangements for OIOS. The European Union is ready to carefully consider the Secretary-General's propos-als and the ACABQ recommendations with a view to strengthening the operational independ-ence of the OIOS. The examination of its work plan and review of the budget by the IAAC are important elements of an improved process. OIOS, IAAC and the Secretariat should re-gard themselves as a triangle of strength, a magic triangle, not a Bermuda triangle.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union is looking forward to constructive negotiations on these issues. When the General Assembly decided to endorse the ACABQ report in December last year, we took this as a good sign for the willingness of all groups to achieve a constructive result that re-flects all interests and opinions represented in this room in the best possible way. Let us con-tinue on that road to success!

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabili-sation and Associa-tion Process.

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• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations 5th Committee: Report on activities of Office of Internal Oversight Services (10/10/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Fifth Committee Programme of Work (7/5/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit and investigative reviews of the tsunami relief operations (5/3/2007)