Written Answers. - UN Economic Security Council.
John O'Leary
Question:
21
Mr. O'Leary
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
if this Government recognises the need to establish a UN Economic Security Council; and the progress, if any, which has been made in this regard during the term of the present Government.
[11473/97]
The possible establishment of a UN economic security council has been a recurring theme in discussions on the reform of the United Nations.
Under the UN Charter, responsibility for providing overall guidance on policy and operational matters in the economic, social and related fields rests with the Economic and Social Council. ECOSOC, which is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, has an elected membership of 54 states. Proponents of an enlarged economic role for the United Nations have argued that an economic security council, with its smaller membership, would contribute to a more focused and practical dialogue on international economic matters and would give the UN the same authority in the economic area that the security council has in peace and security matters.
A proposal to establish an economic security council was considered in the course of the discussions which led to the adoption in May 1996 of General Assembly Resolution 50/227 on the restructuring and revitalisation of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields. It was not acceptable to the broad bulk of smaller and developing countries, who were not prepared to see responsibility for the area of international economic co-operation and development vested in a body of more restricted membership. Emphasis was given instead to making ECOSOC more efficient, responsive and dynamic. Resolution 50/227, the product of those discussions, contains a set of measures aimed at strengthening the capacity of ECOSOC to fulfil its Charter responsibilities and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its subsidiary bodies. The process of implementing those measures is under way and they have already produced a discernable improvement in the functioning of ECOSOC.
The UN is continuing to undergo a reform process which is aimed at reviewing its activities, responsibilities and structures in order to meet more effectively the challenges of the 21st century.In a situation characterised by scarcity of resources, the focus has understandably been on ensuring that available resources are used as efficiently and as effectively as possible and on enhancing the performance of existing structures and the impact of UN development operations at field level, rather than on the establishment of new bodies.
The Irish Presidency, in consultation with partners, prepared an EU discussion paper elaborating the EU position on various aspects of reform in the economic and social areas. The paper sets out Union proposals on such issues as strengthening the UN Secretariat; on strengthening and streamlining the UN system at country level; and on enhancing the role of ECOSOC. Its purpose is to contribute constructively to the discussion on reform in the United Nations and to a successful outcome of the reform process. The paper was presented to the new Secretary General.
The Secretary General has signalled his intention to proceed vigorously with UN reform. He recently confirmed the appointment of Mr. Maurice Strong as his executive co-ordinator of reform, outlined the reforms he has already taken with a view to improving the top management of the Secretariat, and announced his intention to submit a comprehensive set of reform proposals to the General Assembly at its next session.
The Government recognised in its recent White Paper on Foreign Policy that the United Nations, in the context of the new global partnership, has a unique opportunity in the coming years to agree on a new framework for international cooperation and development, in which a reformed ECOSOC would have an essential role to play. In that context, the Government welcomes the commitment of the Secretary General to far-reaching reform of the United Nations in the economic and social areas and intends to fully support him in his efforts to achieve that goal.
