EU Presidency Statement- Election of the new ECOSOC bureau

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

Let me start with congratulating the new President, Ambassador Léo Mérorès (Haiti) and the new Bureau members Ambassador Jean-Marc Hoscheit (Luxembourg), Ambassador Andrei Dapkiunas (Belarus), Ambassador Kim Hyun Chong (Republic of Korea) and Ambassador Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima (Cape Verde) on their election.

The ECOSOC has taken some historic steps in the past year: holding its first Annual Ministerial Review and launching Development Cooperation Forum. Adopting its two year programme of work for the Annual Ministerial Review was another important step in strengthening the Council. Yet, more work remains to be done.

Some challenges remain, for example to continue selecting the AMR themes in a timely manner, and the adaptation of work of ECOSOC. The European Union is looking forward to working with all of you, as well as the wider UN membership to move ahead on these issues.

With the start of a new year, it is also time to thank the outgoing Bureau of the Council for its excellent work and its contribution to the strengthening of the ECOSOC as one of the most important bodies of the institutional structure of the United Nations. In particular, we want to thank Ambassador Dalius Čekoulis (Lithuania) for his competent and efficient guidance during the last year. At the same time we thank the vice-presidents of the Council, Ambassador Youcef Yousfi (Algeria), Ambassador Hjálmar W. Hannesson (Iceland) and Ambassador Hilario G. Davide (Philippines) for the high quality and the dynamism of their work.

In concluding, let me reaffirm the EU's commitment to the important work of the ECOSOC.

Thank you.

| Arriba |

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