EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Programme of Work

Fifth Committee, Resumed Session, Programme of Work; Statement by Counsellor Enno Drofenik, Austrian Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union.


Mr. Chairman,

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

At the outset I would like to welcome back the Chairman and all the other members of the Bureau, as well as the Committee secretariat, to this first resumed session of the Fifth Committee. We are looking forward to working closely with you and all delegations to ensure a successful outcome of this session by 31 March.

Mr. Chairman,

We have a demanding programme of work in front of us and I would like to use this opportunity to touch briefly upon the most relevant items on our agenda:

Last December when we agreed on the budget 2006-2007, time did not seem to be sufficient for an in-depth consideration of the requested allocations for Special Political Missions. In consequence the Committee allocated only an amount of 100 million USD for the period 1 January to 30 April 2006. It is now a priority to provide the necessary resources for the biennium 2006-2007 to ensure that all of these important missions are fully funded.

One of the most pressing items in front of us is the Capital Master Plan. The renovation of the Secretariat building is long overdue. The building, which has outlived its life-span, is in constant need of repair, wastes energy and represents a safety hazard for staff, delegates and visitors alike. The EU stands ready for action and looks forward to receiving more detailed information on the project during this session,. It will be crucial to ensure the clear commitment of all member states - in particular of the host country - to fully participate in the financing of the project.

Regarding the Scale of Assessments we need to finalise the methodology models that we wish to submit to the Committee on Contributions for its consideration. These models will provide us with additional information for the upcoming negotiations during the main session of the 61st General Assembly.

Under this agenda item we also have to deal with a report on the unpaid assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia. This issue has been deferred a number of times. It needs to be resolved in a timely manner.

Mr. Chairman,

The Fifth Committee will have to play an important role in the implementation of the World Summit 2005.

During this session we will discuss the report of the Secretary General on the establishment of a Peacebuilding Support Office. The establishment of the office was mandated by our Heads of State and Government. We regard it as a priority item.

Furthermore, the General Assembly will soon be presented with a report on the review of rules and regulations of the organisation. The EU considers the way in which we have proceeded so far with the implementation of the management chapter of the Summit Outcome Document to be very constructive. We hope that this method of work in which the Plenary level and the Fifth Committee complement one another will continue. The Plenary of the General Assembly, which has mandated this review at its highest political level, is in charge of the political decisions and provides guidance on how to proceed. The Fifth Committee will undertake the technical review of the administrative and financial aspects of the report. In this context, we stress the importance of handling this report expeditiously and support the Co-chairs' efforts to this end.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.


*Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Programme of Work  (5/3/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - Programme Budget for Biennium 2006-2007 (31/10/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Reports of Board of Auditors (11/10/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN Fifth Committee: Organization of Work (29/9/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Investing in the UN (7/7/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Administration of Justice at the UN (21/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Estimates in respect of special political missions (21/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Speaking Points - Ad Hoc Working Group on UN General Assembly Revitalization (16/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Peacebuilding Support Office  (15/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee: Standardized Access Control (14/3/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - Fifth Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (6/3/2006)
• 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 Detailed Speaking Points - ECOSOC Reform  (20/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - General Assembly Revitalization  (16/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - Secretariat and Management Reform  (15/2/2006)
• EU Speaking Points - UN Secretariat and Management Reform  (7/2/2006)
• Calendar of Austrian Presidency January - June 2006 (1/1/2006)