CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFORM EFFORTS OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS IN AFRICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND PACIFIC, WESTERN ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN NOTED

Press Release
ECOSOC/5784

CONTRIBUTIONS AND REFORM EFFORTS OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS IN AFRICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND PACIFIC, WESTERN ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN NOTED

The Economic and Social Council this afternoon adopted four resolutions and one decision, all without a vote, recommended by the five regional commissions, as it continued its review of the work of those bodies.

The Council adopted two resolutions containing recommendation from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). By the terms of a text on relationships between the Commission, United Nations agencies and other organizations in Africa, the Council recommended that those parties support existing coordination mechanisms at the regional level. It also recommended the adoption of principles for regional coordination, strengthening of coordination at the subregional level and the enhancement of cooperation among African organizations.

By the second ECA draft, the Council endorsed the revision to the Commission's medium-term plan, 1998-2001. That involved the establishment of the following two new subprogrammes: "Promoting the advancement of women"; and "Supporting subregional activities for development".

Through the adoption of a draft text recommended by the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Council stressed that the two core functions of the ECE were the development and harmonization of legal instruments, norms and standards in its areas of expertise; and the production of statistics and analyses in those areas. It also welcomed the involvement of interested non- member States in the development and adoption of norms established by the Commission.

A text submitted by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) had the Council urge all ESCAP members to intensify efforts to fulfil regional targets for the disabled.

By the terms of a draft decision from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission to accept the invitation of Mexico to hold its twenty-eighth session there in the year 2000.

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The representatives of Japan, Austria (on behalf of the European Union) and Indonesia (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries" and China) made statements on the resolutions.

Also this afternoon, the Council held a general discussion on regional cooperation and the roles of the regional commissions. Several speakers stressed that fostering cooperation and integration was the major function of the commissions. There should be an enhanced exchange of information among all the entities operating at the regional level, including non-United Nations bodies. One speaker said each commission must use its limited resources wisely and consider whether resources were going to the highest priority activities. Other speakers noted that perhaps the regional commissions were being asked to do too much with too little.

Statements were made by Indonesia (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Austria (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), India, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Republic of Korea, United States, China, Bangladesh, Russian Federation, Poland, Thailand, Czech Republic, Iran, Philippines and Oman.

The Executive Secretary of ECA, K.Y. Amoako, speaking in his capacity as current coordinator of the regional commissions, also addressed the Council this afternoon.

In addition, the Council decided to take note of the following report: the Secretary-General's report on regional cooperation in the context of a programme for reform of the United Nations (documents E/1998/65 and Adds.1-3); summary of the economic survey of Europe, 1997 (document E/1998/11); summary of the economic and social situation in Africa, 1998 (document E/1998/12); summary of the economic and social survey of Asian and the Pacific (document E/1998/13); summary of the economic survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 1997 (document E/1998/14); and the summary of the economic and social development in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) region (document E/1998/15).

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 21 July, to continue review of policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system related to the follow-up to the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.

Council Work Programme

The Economic and Social Council met this afternoon to continue the general segment of its 1998 substantive session by holding a general discussion on regional cooperation. (For details on reports of regional commissions, see Press Release ECOSOC/5783 issued 20 July.)

To facilitate the discussion, the Council had before it the Secretary- General's report on the regional commissions in context of United Nations reform (documents E/1998/65 and Adds.1, 2 and 3). Addressing regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields, the report outlines four broad avenues towards optimizing the potential of the regional commissions to contribute to the central United Nations role in promoting development and international cooperation.

The first avenue lies in relation to the internal reform efforts of each commission and their respective governmental machineries, the report states. Encouraging horizontal cooperation between the commissions would enable the best practices in any commission to be adopted by the rest.

The second is related to a rational distribution of secretariat responsibilities, the report states. It involves such coordination efforts as the active participation of the commissions in the Executive Committee for Economic and Social Affairs, carrying out joint exercises, developing the criteria for measuring comparative advantages and optimizing the convening power of the regional commissions for articulating regional perspectives on global issues.

The third avenue refers to improving coordination of commissions' activities with other regional activities of the United Nations system; and the fourth pertains to reinforcing synergies and lessening duplication of efforts in the work programmes of the regional commissions and other non- United Nations regional or subregional bodies.

The first addendum to the report presents an overview of activities of the regional commissions. It outlines results of the reforms, as well as trends and activities undertaken by the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The report covers the work of the commissions in normative and operational activities, including follow-up activities to recent global conferences. It also describes interregional cooperation, as called for in context of overall United Nations reform.

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Contained in the second addendum to the report are draft texts approved by the regional commissions and forwarded to the Economic and Social Council for its considerations.

By the terms of the draft resolution forwarded by the ECE, the Council would stress that the two core functions of the ECE were the development and harmonization of legal instruments, norms and standards in its areas of expertise; and the production of statistics and analyses in those areas. It would emphasize that the technical assistance activities of the Commission were limited in scale and were undertaken in support of activities in its core areas. It would welcome the involvement of interested non-member States in the development and adoption of norms established by the Commission. The Council would also stress that the Commission had the role of bringing the contributions of the region to the global level and facilitating the implementation of international commitments in the region with respect to its areas of work.

The Council would also take up a draft resolution approved by ESCAP on strengthening regional support for persons with disabilities by which it would urge all ESCAP members to intensify efforts to fulfil regional targets for the disabled. The ESCAP Executive Secretary would be requested to strengthen secretariat assistance to members and assistance members by, among other things, explore organizing a high-level regional meeting to consider lessons learned towards fulfilling goals for the disabled.

By the terms of a draft decision from ECLAC, the Council would decide to endorse the decision of the Commission to accept the invitation of Mexico to hold its twenty-eighth session there in the year 2000.

The Council would also take up two drafts from ECA. By the terms of one draft on relationships between the Commission, the United Nations agencies and other organizations in Africa, the Council would recommend that those parties support existing coordination mechanisms at the regional level. The Council would also recommend the adoption of principles for regional coordination, strengthening of coordination at the subregional level, and the enhancement of cooperation among African organizations.

By the terms of a second draft from ECA, the Council would endorse the revision to the Commission's medium-term plan, 1998-2001, involving the establishment of the following two new subprogrammes: "Promoting the advancement of women"; and "Supporting subregional activities for development".

A third addendum contains a report on the role of ESCAP in promoting economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific. That position paper was transmitted by the ESCAP Chairman for review by the Council. It centred on ESCAP's review and revision of its conference structure to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in tackling the region's complex development issues.

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Introduction of Secretary-General's Report

K.Y. AMOAKO, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), speaking in his capacity as current coordinator of the regional commissions, introduced the Secretary-General report on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related field. He said the Secretary-General believed that regional commissions had an important role to play in enhancing the overall performance of the United Nations in the economic and social sectors. That could be achieved through their dual capacity as integral parts of the Organization and as parts of the institutional landscape of their respective regions. Yet, reviewing the role of the regional commissions in the broader context of United Nations reform raised complex issues.

The Secretary-General made recommendations that would optimize the commission's contribution to the United Nations central role of promoting development and international cooperation, he said. He also recommended pay to enhance interaction between the Council and the regional commission, so that the global and regional aspects of development were harmonized.

Statements

PRIANTI GAGARIN DJATMIKO-SINGGIH (Indonesia), and on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the role of regional commissions had significantly increased in importance with the process of globalization. Those entities were now required to ensure that globalization helped, rather than hindered the economies of their respective regions. The Group of 77 and China considered the internal reform process of each regional commission to be an important aspect of United Nations reform.

She said regional commissions had been called upon to provide leadership and take responsibility for coordination and cooperation in their respective regions. That role was as important as ever. Because of their critical mass and their interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral capacities, regional commissions were important tools for the follow-up to global conferences. Cooperation between the commissions and other regional bodies should not be confined to economic aspects, but should also involve collaboration with other regional groupings. The Group was particularly interested in fostering South-South cooperation through subregional groupings.

She said it was believed that fostering cooperation and integration was the major function of the commissions. Due to their interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches, the commissions fell within both categories of normative tasks: the analytical and norm-setting functions; as well as the operational activities which provided technical assistance, project execution and training.

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ERNST SUCHARIPA (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union and Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, said the regional commissions had a valuable role to play in the United Nations system. They could act as agents for facilitating regional cooperation in a wide range of economic, social and related activities, as well as an interface between the national and global levels. Their role should be seen in the broader context of United Nations reform. There should be a more focused division of labour, based on comparative advantages. As their funding is from the regular budget, they also had a responsibility to the entire membership of the Organization.

The ECE had defined its niche in a complex institutional environment, he said. It played a valuable role in the development of common legal instruments, norms and standards. The Union encouraged the ECE to continue its prioritization of work within its principal subsidiary bodies in order to introduce more flexibility and dynamism into the programming.

He went on to say that the Executive Committee for Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Development Group should serve as the main vehicles for integrating the activities of the regional commissions into the overall work of the United Nations. There should be an enhanced exchanged of information among all the entities operating at the regional level, including non-United Nations bodies. The Union supported the Secretary-General's call for close cooperation between the regional commission and other non-United Nations regional or subregional bodies. That would reinforce synergies, eliminate duplications between their respective work programmes and allow for the optimal use of resources.

SATYABRATA PAL (India) said the key policy question for the Economic and Social Council was how to optimize the benefits of globalization and liberalization while minimizing the risks for developing countries. There was also a need to fine-tune policy perspectives so as to promote growth and equity in the context of emerging development.

It was hoped that internal reform measures being undertaken by regional commissions would streamline work in the area of regional economic cooperation and poverty alleviation, he said. Ample time should be given to allow those measures to take root and be implemented. To effectively discharge their responsibilities, the necessary authority should be delegated to the regional commissions and adequate budgetary and financial provision be made for their activities.

He said regional commissions shared a common mandate in raising the level of economic development and cooperation among the countries of their regions. They could also serve as a forum for articulating regional perspectives on global issues and vice versa. They were ideally placed to

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facilitate the exchange of experience, particularly in developmental areas, and to implement global mandates emanating from recent conferences, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. In many ways, regional commissions had a natural comparative advantage as regional team leaders. The Council needed to build upon that advantage, while exercising oversight and coordinating functions.

GORAN STEVCEVSKI (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) said the ECE should play an even greater role in assisting countries with economies in transition to become members of the European Union. Whether the ECE would be considered to be a successful organ in the future would depend on the results of those endeavours. Many countries in transition had lost their former markets, and it was difficult for those countries to regain them. They had difficulty in exporting goods to the European Union markets due to the barriers and requirements currently in place.

In order to assist countries with economies in transition, the ECE needed to address several key issues, he said. Many ECE member countries were not members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was unacceptable that ECE members were marginalized from the ongoing process of liberalization and globalization.

In addition, he said, countries in transition urgently required increase foreign direct investment in various segments of their economies. That need was caused by ongoing reform, privatization and modernization processes in the building of their market economies. The ECE could play an important role as the vehicle for the promotion of those urgent needs. It could also help to speed up European infrastructure projects, including highway, rail and pipeline networks. The priorities of the vast majority of the ECE members must be considered and spelt out more clearly in its programme of work.

MARIAN CHIRILA (Romania) said the double role assigned to regional commissions -- that of acting as regional outposts of the United Nations, and of being its regional expression -- made them well placed to facilitate the implementation of global commitments. The commissions' interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to economic and social affairs and development cooperation made close interaction with the rest of the United Nations system important. On the other hand, the fact that the regional commissions were part of the institutional landscape of their respective geographical areas, required their close cooperation with other regional bodies in order to reinforce synergies and lessen duplication. It went without saying that their mandates and work programmes should remain driven by regional needs and reflect the priorities set by member States.

He said the reform process of the ECE reflected the commitment of that body to adapt to the new relevant realities of the continent. Reforms would enable it to respond better to specific needs and challenges, to build upon

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proven advantages, to enhance cooperation with other regional and subregional institutions, and to intensify dialogue with civil society and the business community. The ECE was the regional forum through which public and private partners could meet and share experiences.

SUH DAE-WON (Republic of Korea) said the changing regional context had highlighted the importance of coordination. The ESCAP should focus on the programme areas which it could best utilize its core competency and strengthen the regional inter-agency consultative mechanism. In order to avoid duplication and overlapping, the other United Nations funds and programmes -- in pursuing their regional activities -- should respect the particular role and mandate of the regional commission. In addition, ESCAP's role as a "team leader" in its efforts to coordinate regional economic and social activities of the United Nations agencies should be reaffirmed and respected.

The commissions' contribution to promoting regional development and cooperation was still valid, he said. Yet, it was crucial to link their efforts to the overall activities of the United Nations in the economic and social sectors. The regional commissions had been actively involved in the preparation and follow-up to the major United Nations conferences. The Council should continue its work in coordinating and implementing the outcomes of the conferences at the regional level, in relation to the relevant activities of its functional commissions. The Council also should encourage interaction among regional commissions through the sharing of experiences and information, as well as through joint programmes. Cooperation between regional commissions could be utilized as an important channel for South-South cooperation.

DEBORAH LINDE (United States) said the regional commissions needed to be open to change. Structural adjustments and work programme priorities needed to adapt to changing circumstances. To best serve their regions, each commission must use its limited resources wisely and consider whether resources were going to the highest priority activities. In reducing administrative costs, the commissions must also look for further opportunities for cost-sharing and for increasing extrabudgetary resources.

Regarding the quality of the work programmes, she said the commissions should set objectives and evaluate their performance in clear, measurable ways. Only by developing and using performance indicators would the commissions be able to ensure that they were producing real value-added work. The publications of ESCAP, ESCWA and ECA took up too large a proportion of their resources. Those commissions needed to ensure that those publications remained relevant and clearly served the purpose of furthering regional development.

The regional commissions should fortify their links with civil society; other agencies, such as the Bretton Woods institutions; and their sister

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commissions, she said. Attention should also be given to the link between the regional economic commissions and the functional commissions. Both groups must look for areas of complementarity and overlap. It was not enough to say that "the commission existed first". Each commission must recognize that its role and its area of comparative competence were evolutionary.

CUI YING (China) said with regard to the Asian crisis and the region covered by ESCAP, the United Nations system should conduct relevant cooperation activities. Methods of financial risk prevention, effective financial monitoring and early warning mechanisms should be introduced. Social development cooperation should be well-focused, with poverty and unemployment as priorities. Efforts should be intensified in those priority areas to promote the development of labour skills and complete the social security network. Developed countries should fulfil their official development assistance (ODA) commitments as soon as possible and provide ESCAP and other United Nations agencies with adequate development funding. The restructuring of ESCAP was satisfactory and would enhance its efficiency and its role in promoting regional cooperation.

HUMAYUN KABIR (Bangladesh) said his Government attached great importance to the ongoing review of the structure, resource allocation and priority setting of regional commissions. It welcomed the arrangements made by the Secretary-General for their effective participation in the Executive Committee for Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The proposal to carry out joint exercises for mutually supportive programmes would result in effective coordination.

Bangladesh supported the proposal that the Deputy Secretary-General convene meetings of the regional commissions and other agencies active in certain regions, he said. Those would contribute to coordination and raise the profile to regional needs and concerns. Resource allocation should be decentralized to ensure that programmes and actions could be implemented in line with the needs of the region.

Serious consideration should be given to the suggestion that ESCAP assume a leading role in coordination. His Government supported the expansion of ESCAP's authority over the other regional and subregional bodies, he said. That change would help to strengthening ESCAP's consultative role. The ESCAP also had a positive role to play as a vehicle for building consensus on issues involving sustainable development in the region.

YURI N. ISAKOV (Russian Federation) said there was need for a clear definition of competence among the regional commissions to ensure that there were combined efforts and common responsibilities undertaken in the interests of member States. It was also important to extend the scope of technical assistance provided by the commissions.

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Regarding reform of the commissions, he said that a lot needed to be done in order to improve the effectiveness of programme activities. Among the necessary concrete steps, his delegation identified the following: improvement of monitoring and evaluation of projects; further cuts in administrative costs; the search for innovative extrabudgetary sources for funding; reallocation of resources from conference services; and publication activities.

He said there was a need to look for ways to strengthen collaboration between the commissions, regional and subregional organizations and programmes. The commissions also needed to become more actively involved in the United Nations socio-economic activities. The involvement of the private sector and the business community in the programme activities of the regional commissions should be intensified. It was also necessary to strengthen non-governmental organization participation.

ADAM SKRYBANI (Poland) said considerable resources were needed to address the problems that resulted from globalization and economic reforms. The growing participation of the private sector in the work of the ECE was encouraging, but financing activities with private funds might lead countries into a trap. Regional commissions could come under the influence of interest groups. The integration of economies in transition into the world economy continued to be one of the greatest goals for the region. In that context, the Bretton Woods institutions had broad access to United Nations in Europe. That could enable the expansion of technical assistance to countries with economies in transition.

United Nations coordination system at regional level must be improved, he said. The Council could provide a suitable context for reaching a decision about the role of the regional commissions. Poland commended the initiative taken by the Secretary-General in organizing yearly briefing of agencies and funds. Continuing seminars, round tables and other forums for the exchange of opinions and experiences about best practices within the ECE would be useful.

APIRATH VIENRAVIE (Thailand) said the strengthening of regular monitoring and impact capabilities and the further reduction of extraprogramme resources were of great importance to Thailand and would contribute to ESCAP's reform. The Commission needed to further enhance cooperation with subregional organizations, as well as with entities such as the Bretton Woods institutions. His delegation supported ESCAP reform. The decision which was to be taken at this session of the Economic and Social Council should be implemented by all agencies concerned to ensure smooth cooperation.

JAROSLAV STEPANEK (Czech Republic) said much experience gained by the regional commissions had global application. Solutions of one regional commission should be adapted by other commissions with only minor adjustments. Such an approach could prevent the repetition of mistakes and save resources. United Nations regular budget resources could then be devoted to other purposes.

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There should be no conflict between the regional commissions and other United Nations bodies, he said. The Member States had the primary responsibility for distributing labour among the different entities of the Organization, as well as for the appropriate budgetary allocations. The United Nations bodies could not work in harmony if the Member States assigned them contradictory tasks.

The Council represented an irreplaceable forum for coordination among the different actors on the global scene, he said. Perhaps it would perform even better if it involved more intergovernmental, global, regional entities and private partners. The ECE had undertaken considerable endeavours to decentralize its activities and augment the authority and accountability of its principal subsidiary bodies. Yet, those measures had not been accompanied by the transfer of more authority from Headquarters to the ECE secretariat.

MEHDI MIRASZAL (Iran) said regional commissions had made great strides towards achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness. They had established working relationships with other regional bodies and enhanced existing relationships. Interaction with global organizations such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had contributed articulating regional imperatives in a global setting. Interaction with agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was imperative for more efficiency and to avoiding overlap and duplication.

He said ESCAP, as the team leader for the United Nations social and economic activities in Asia, had taken great strides to meet the changing needs of the countries of its region. Resources had been directed more to operational activities. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were working in cooperation with ESCAP. The Commission should also be credited with raising awareness about the goals set at major United Nations conferences.

LIBRAN CABACTULAN (Philippines) said his Government was satisfied that all the regional commissions were implementing reform programmes in accordance with the expectations of the Council. While those processes must continue, reforms should be considered. Perhaps the regional commissions were being asked to do too much without adequate resources.

The Philippines supported the programmes of ESCAP, both those across the region and within subregions, he said. Stumbling blocks to progress remained, including the lack of resources and the decline in ODA. The international community should soon produce the political will necessary to provide the resources required by developing countries. The regional commissions should be included as regular participant in the process for UNDAF.

MOHAMED AL-HASSAN (Oman) said regional commissions were very important to his country in the context of development. Commissions with an operational

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character produced the best results for Member States. Reform of such entities and the Organization was logical and continuing, and not time-bound. The reform process should not be an end in itself or present burdens that would hinder the services that commissions could provide to Member States. The Secretary-General proposed ways to translate institutional reforms into practical experiences.

Action on Recommendations of Regional Commissions

The Council adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution on the review of the regional commissions by the Economic Social Council, containing recommendations by the ECE.

The Council then took up the draft resolution, recommended by ESCAP, on strengthening regional support for persons with disabilities into the twenty- first century.

YOSHITAKA KITAZAWA (Japan) said his Government was the original sponsor of the draft resolution. The greatest impact of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, was that it had made people more knowledgeable about the issues of disability. Through the activities of the Decade, people were becoming aware that the disabled were full members of society, as well as precious resources. Much still remained to be done during the second half of the Decade. Greater national efforts to promote the further participation of the disabled in the mainstream of society were essential. Japan hoped the Council would adopt the draft resolution by consensus.

The Council then adopted the resolution without a vote.

The Council adopted a draft decision on the venue of the twenty-eighth session of ECLAC, recommended by ECLAC.

Next, the Council adopted a draft resolution on relationships between ECA, United Nations agencies and regional and subregional organizations in Africa (document E/1998/65/Add.2), recommended by ECA.

The Council also adopted a resolution, recommended by ECA, on the revision of the medium-term plan, 1998-2001 of ECA (document E/1998/65/Add.2).

In explanation of position, HANS-PETER GLANZER (Austria), and on behalf of the European Union, emphasized that the resolutions and decisions just adopted should be viewed in the larger context of the outcome of the review on regional commissions. Hopefully, the conclusions drawn from review would be adopted by the Council later in the session. Recommendations which addressed the United Nations system must be compatible with field-level coordinating mechanisms.

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In explanation of position, Ms. SINGGIH (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, expressed support for reform efforts by the regional commissions aimed at achieving better coordination with the United Nations and other non-United Nations bodies.

JUAN SOMAVIA (Chile), President of the Council, drew the Council's attention to a letter from the Chairman of ESCAP at its fifty-fourth session. The Chairman requested the Council President to transmit the letter, as well as relevant portions of a report entitled, "The role of ESCAP in the promotion of economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific: draft ESCAP position paper for review by the Economic and Social Council".

The Council then took note of the following reports: the Secretary- General's report on regional cooperation in the context of a programme for reform of the United Nations; summary of the economic survey of Europe, 1997; summary of the economic and social situation in Africa, 1998; summary of the economic and social survey of Asian and the Pacific; summary of the economic survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 1997; and the summary of the economic and social development in ESCWA region.

Mr. AMOAKA, ECA Executive Secretary, said reform was not an event, but a process. The regional commissions had taken many steps to improve efficiency. Discussions during today's session had been very candid and very useful, and all feedback was appreciated. Collectively, today's process provided a framework to move forward. By definition, the whole concept of team leader for the commissions was one which met with full acceptance.

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