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

Sommaire: July 18, 2005: EU Presidency Statement on The ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, by The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, ECOSOC: Agenda item 7 (d) - Co-ordination, programme and other questions: long-term programme of support for Haiti (New York)

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 commend the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti for its thoughtful and comprehensive report.

The EU is supportive of the way the Ad Hoc Group has conducted its mandate, consulting all relevant partners concerned: the Transitional Government, the UN presence - both MINUSTAH and the UN Country Team, the Bretton Woods Institutions, NGOs and donors. The Group's joint mission with the Security Council demonstrated the value of bringing to bear the combined weight and experience of these two institutions on the challenges in Haiti and it stands as a clear sign of how development, human rights and security are strongly linked.

Mr President, the Ad Hoc Group reports that "Haiti is in a critical socio-economic situation that raises profound concerns about the future of the Country". 76% of the population live in poverty; overall economic growth since 1980 has been negative; there are major food-security challenges; the number of children completing primary school education has diminished over the past 15 years; women's unemployment is widespread; half the population does not have access to drinking water; and environmental degradation has increased the vulnerability of the population to natural disasters. International assistance and remittances, though important in volume, have played the mere role of "shock absorbers". In addition, the security and human rights situation in Haiti remains fragile and a matter of great concern. Haiti needs the sustained support of the international community, over a number of years, as it makes the transition from post-conflict challenges to development.

Mr President, let me comment on a number of the Group's recommendations:

- First, the EU believes that the elaboration of a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Haiti will be one of the key mechanisms to help the Transitional Government and its successors, stay on track for long-term development and in ensuring the international community provides the necessary support. The EU agrees that ECOSOC has a role to play in advocating for this. In addition, the UN, the Bretton Woods Institutions and donors should support the Government as it develops the PRS. In this regard, the EU welcomes the creation of a Strategic Planning Unit by the interim Government in order to focus on the long-term development of the country.

- Second, the EU agrees that the DDR process is critical to a successful transition to development and that DDR activities should be sustained over the long-term and complemented by activities to build structures and capacities for the rule of law.

- Third, while elections cannot provide a panacea, they will be critical for stability and therefore future economic development. Supporting voter registration and education and election monitoring is a crucial task for the future of the country. For this reason, the EU intends to send an electoral exploratory mission to Haiti. In addition, the EU has committed €10 million to support the organisation of elections and a further contribution of €8 million is under consideration.

Mr. President, the EU supports an extension of the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, focussing on the long-term development strategy, until the Substantive Session of the Economic and Social Council in July 2006, and taking into account developments on the proposal for a Peacebuilding Commission. The EU looks forward to co-operating with the Ad Hoc Group over the coming months.

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.

Ref: PRES05-214EN
Source UE: Présidence UE
UN forum: ECOSOC (Conseil économique et social), (y compris Commissions fonctionnelles)
Date: 18/7/2005

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