Summary: 12 June 2012, New York - Statement on behalf of the Member States of the European Union by Ms. Carmel Power, First Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the 66th Second Resumed Session of the General Assembly Fifth Committee: Conclusion of the second resumed session
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Member States of the European Union.
The Acceding country Croatia aligns itself with this statement.
We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Field Support and wish Ms. Haq every success in her new role. We look forward to working with her.
At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman, the Bureau and the Secretary of the Committee and her team, as well as other members of the Secretariat who have provided assistance to the Committee during this session, for their invaluable support.
The Member States of the European Union would also like to thank all colleagues for their cooperation, flexibility and constructiveness during this productive second part of the resumed sixty-sixth General Assembly session. We are satisfied that the Committee has achieved important results in respect of the peacekeeping operations' budgets. The budget levels that we have agreed upon ensure that the Missions are provided with the resources required for the implementation of their mandates, while at the same time more closely reflecting the need for effective and efficient management of the Organisation.
The Member States of the European Union welcome the adoption of a cross-cutting resolution and the guidance it provides for more effective peacekeeping.
With regard to the Global Field Support Strategy we continue to support its integral implementation and we welcome the progress made this session in its various components. However, we believe that there were reasons for a more ambitious decision regarding the comprehensive re-profiling of the Global Service Centre in Brindisi, including its facility in Valencia. Therefore, we look forward to considering next year's report of the Secretary General with his end-state vision for the Strategy, which must provide Member States with detailed information including on the role and functions to be performed by the whole Global Service Centre and by the Regional Service Centre.
On the subject of UNSOA, while the EU Member States are pleased that funding has been agreed for the next 12 months, we would nonetheless like to emphasise our position of principle on reimbursement for troop-related costs. The 27 EU Member States firmly believe that it is a matter of principle that there should be no backdating of payments of troop costs and contingent-owned equipment before the actual integration of any forces under the command of the African Union. In the specific case of UNSOA, no payment should therefore be made before the date of signature of the MOU between the African Union and the troop-contributing country. We also strongly believe that the number of troops should be verified before any payment is made.
Mr. Chairman,
Today, we conclude this second resumed session. The Member States of the European Union believe that all Member States can feel satisfied with the results achieved in this session and particularly with the climate in which the discussions took place. We are convinced that this constructive spirit will continue during the 67th session of the General Assembly. The Member States of the European Union, as usual, will do their best to contribute to this end.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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