Economic and Social Council

2015 Organizational Session

1^st Meeting (PM)

Economic and Social Council Adopts 2015 Provisional Agenda, Further Approves Text

On Transition to Sustainable Development Goals, Implementation

The Economic and Social Council today opened it 2015 session, adopting a provisional agenda and taking action on two draft decisions.

Council President Martin Sajdik ( Austria) said the opening came after a successful 2014 session that had seen the organ’s first integration segment, along with the first time the high-level political forum on sustainable development had met under Council auspices.  That had further consolidated sustainable development in the work of the United Nations, he said, adding that 2014 had also seen adoption of the first Ministerial Declaration by both the Council’s high-level segment and the high-level political forum on sustainable development.

Mr. Sajdik looked forward to building on those achievements to ensure the 2015 session was a success.  At this time next year, negotiations on the direction for development after 2015 would be reaching a conclusion, leading to establishment of a post-2015 development agenda.

After the President’s opening remarks, the Council adopted its provisional agenda (document E/2015/1).

The Council then adopted a decision (document E/2014/L.24) that set the theme of “Managing the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the sustainable development goals:  what will it take?” for its 2015 session, and “Implementing the post-2015 development agenda:  moving from commitments to results” for its 2016 session.

It also adopted a draft decision (document E/2014/L.23) that set the theme for the Council’s integration segment of the 2015 session as “Achieving sustainable development through employment creation and decent work for all”.

Mr. Sajdik then outlined how responsibilities would be divided between himself and the Economic and Social Council Vice-Presidents, adding that he planned to coordinate preparations for the 2015 high-level political forum under the auspices of the Council.

The Council postponed action on a draft decision entitled “Working arrangements for the 2015 session of the Economic and Social Council” (document E/2014/L.1) until tomorrow afternoon.

The Economic and Social Council will meet again at 3 p.m. on 22 July to take action on a draft decision.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record