UN Fifth Committee: EU Statement on Agenda Item 124: Joint Inspection Unit

61st Session of the General Assembly, Fifth Committee, Agenda Item 124: Joint Inspection Unit,

New York, 10 October 2006

Statement by Ms. Katja Pehrman, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Finland 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 the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, I would like to thank the Chairperson of the Joint Inspection Unit, Ms. Deborah Wynes, for introducing the Report of the Unit for 2005 and programme of work for 2006, contained in document A/61/34.

The EU welcomes the progress evident in the ongoing reform of the JIU through improved working methods and exploration of ways to better the quality and relevance of its reports. The progress of the implementation of resolution 59/267 detailed in Annex 3 of the Annual Report is appreciated. In general, we note with satisfaction the continuing emphasis on system-wide or multi-agency subjects for 2005 and 2006, together with apparent efforts to revise the Unit’s follow-up system to monitor the acceptance and implementation of its recommendations and their measurable impact. But the EU requests assurance that concrete data on the status of recommendations which apply to more than one agency will be forthcoming.

Turning to the relationship with other oversight bodies, the European Union considers that coordination is an essential tool to identify common areas of work, avoid duplication and create synergies. The EU therefore encourages the Unit to continue to develop constructive working relationships with OIOS and the BOA.

On the programme of work for 2006, we were pleased to receive a provisional version at the first resumed 60th session, in the form of a conference room paper. This is a marked improvement over previous years, and we look forward to hearing details of how the JIU intends to expedite the formal adoption and submission of its programme of work at an earlier stage.

Mr. Chairman,

Turning to the appointment of inspectors of the Joint Inspection Unit, which we will start discussing tomorrow, the European Union supports the proposals to improve the selection process for inspectors of the Joint Inspection Unit, as contained in note A/60/659 of the President of the General Assembly on procedures for the appointment of inspectors of the unit, in response to a request in resolution 59/267.

The selection process should be more simple, transparent and reliable and ensure that the candidates meet the necessary professional requirements. The focus on the consultative role of the President of the General Assembly and the thorough evaluation of the candidates together with the shortening of the overall process are important means to that end.

Thank you.

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