EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Position: Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries

EU Presidency Explanation of Position on UN General Assembly 60th session, Second Committee: Item 55 (a) Groups of countries in special situations: Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, by the UK Mission to the UN, on behalf of the European Union, New York

Mr Chairman,

The European Union has abstained in the vote on OP6 of this year's resolution on the mid term comprehensive global review of the Brussels Programme of Action, 2001 -2010.

The European Union wishes to take this opportunity to underline that our abstention is not a reflection of a lack of commitment to the review process. We remain fully committed to the review of the Brussels Programme of Action, and we are conscious that more remains to be done in its implementation. We look forward to a mid term review which identifies areas of progress and possibilities for improved implementation reiterating the principals expressed in resolution A/RES/57/270B.

In last year's resolution, the international community committed itself to undertake a comprehensive mid term review of the Brussels Programme of Action and to outline the modalities of such a review in this year's resolution. The European Union is concerned at the ambiguity of the language framed in OP6 as set out before us. It is vital that before undertaking the mid term review the international community clearly identifies its end objective and the outcome. In the European Union's opinion, OP6 fails to define this objective.

The European Union is also concerned at the PBI implications of OP 5 and OP6, as notified to us less than 24 hours ago. The European Union is not yet in a position to judge the merits or otherwise of this PBI, which it will wish to consider in further detail in due course, including in the 5th committee. We have yet to be convinced that these predicted costs are either essential or cannot be absorbed by existing resources.

We remain strongly committed to implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, as part of our wider commitment to the global development agenda and look forward to contributing to the review. However, we are disturbed that with a programme that is founded on partnerships, our partners could not consider our concerns.

| Haut |

• EU Presidency Statement - High-level Meeting on Least Developed Countries (18/9/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries: Introduction: EU OP6 (15/12/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Least Developed Countries (10/11/2005)