Economic and Social Council

2010 Organizational Session

2^nd Meeting (AM)

Economic and Social Council Adopts Provisional Agenda, Working Arrangements

 

For Substantive Session Scheduled for 28 June-23 July

 

Also Sets 18-19 March for Meeting with Bretton Woods Institutions,

Fills Four Vacancies on Committee for United Nations Population Award

Holding its second organizational meeting this year, the Economic and Social Council today adopted five decisions, outlining its agenda and work programme for its 2010 substantive session, set to be held from 28 June to 23 July in New York.

By adopting those decisions, (contained in document ECOSOC/2010/L.1), the 54-member body approved the provisional agenda for its substantive 2010 session (document E/2010/1), determined the working arrangements for the year and took note of a list of questions for inclusion in the programme of its work for 2011.

One decision set the Council’s annual high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organizations (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for 18 and 19 March at United Nations Headquarters.  In another, the Council decided that the work of its Operational Activities Segment should be devoted to progress on and implementation of General Assembly resolutions 62/208, 63/232 and 64/220, and Council resolution 2009/1, on operational activities for development of the United Nations system.

As for the working arrangements for its 2010 substantive session, the Council decided that its high-level segment would be held from 28 June to 2 July.  The dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions would be held in the afternoon of 2 July; the Coordination Segment, from 6 to 8 July; the Operational Activities Segment, from 9 July to 13 July; the Humanitarian Affairs segment, from 14 to 15 July; and the General Segment from 16 to 22 July.

The Council decided to postpone action on decisions related to the themes of its Humanitarian Affairs Segment and its Regional Cooperation Segment, as well as on its planned event to discuss the issue of transition from relief to development.

In other business, the Council filled the four remaining vacancies in the Committee for the United Nations Population Award, with the election by acclamation of Egypt, Ghana, Malaysia and Norway for terms beginning today and expiring on 31 December 2012. The Award is given annually to individuals and institutions for their outstanding work in the field of population and in the improvement of health and welfare.

In final business, the Council took up matters regarding the distribution of seats on the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP), in light of the decision of the General Assembly in resolution 53/223 that such distribution should be reviewed, with the results entering into force on 1 January 2012.

Council President Hamidon Ali (Malaysia) said that, for the review to be completed in a timely manner, and for the Council to hold elections for the new seats in the spring of 2011, recommendations from the Council would need to be submitted to the Assembly at its sixty-fifth session.  Those recommendations would also require the concurrence of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which would meet in November.  Therefore, he said, the Council would hold consultations this year with a view towards finalizing such recommendations and submitting them to the Assembly and the FAO Conference by November.

Addressing the Council on “other matters”, the representative of Brazil proposed that the 54-member body consider convening urgently an informal meeting to consider action that could be taken to further assist the people and Government of Haiti in the wake of last month’s devastating earthquake.  He said that, while the international community and the United Nations, led by the Secretary-General, had indeed responded swiftly and comprehensively to the disaster, the Council had a role to play, especially towards the coordination of the response of United Nations funds and programmes.  He proposed the holding of an informal session, but was open to further discussions on the actual format.  The representatives of Saint Lucia and Pakistan supported that proposal, and a representative of the World Bank said that agency was also “ready and willing to participate in any way” in the Council’s activities regarding support for Haiti.

The Economic and Social Council will meet at a time and date to be announced.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record