Gerry Reynolds
Question:12 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the appropriate future role of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and its relationship with other European institutions.
Written Answers. - UN Economic Commission for Europe.
Phil Hogan
Question:13 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the appropriate future role of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and its relationship with other European institutions.
Fergus O'Brien
Question:22 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the appropriate future role of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and its relationship with other European institutions.
Louis J. Belton
Question:27 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the appropriate future role of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and its relationship with other European institutions.
John Bruton
Question:47 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the appropriate future role of the UN Economic Commission for Europe and its relationship with other European institutions.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13, 22, 27 and 47 together.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe was founded in 1947 to promote the economic reconstruction of Europe and strengthen East-West economic relations.
The profound political and economic changes which have taken place in Europe in the past few years, particularly in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, have prompted a reassessment of the ECE's role. This review has led to agreement in 1990 among the member states on its future activities which are to be concentrated in five priority areas, namely, environment, transport, statistics, trade facilitation and economic analysis. It has also been agreed that the ECE should be active in a number of areas of lower priority but nevertheless of importance to the Central and Eastern European economies in transition. These areas include undertaking analytical work on the difficulties associated with privatising enterprises and the adjustment of government institutions, policies and methods to conform to a market oriented economy.
The ECE is a valuable forum for East-West economic dialogue and co-operation. This is particularly so because it brings together all countries of Eastern and Western Europe, as well as the United States and Canada. In addition, dialogue and co-operation will be enhanced by ensuring that the ECE and the various other bodies in East-West economic co-operation co-ordinate their activities. These include the OECD, the Council of Europe and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as the activities carried on in the CSCE framework. The European Community takes the view that the activities of the ECE should dovetail with those of other organisations. In this regard the representation of the ECE at CSCE meetings serves an essential purpose, as does the participation of the Community and the member states in the annual sessions of the ECE.