Fifth Committee

Discussing a variety of questions involving the United Nations common system this morning, the Fifth Committee considered, among other things: proposed introduction of end-of-service severance pay for staff on fixed-term contracts; possible changes to the mandatory retirement age; salary adjustments in New York and other duty stations; job evaluation standards for General Service and related categories; base/floor salary scale and evolution of the margin; and gender balance in staffing.

Reporting on the financial situation of the United Nations to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning, the Organization’s top management official presented, once again, “a mixed picture”, while noting some improvements and stressing the importance of timely and full payment of Member States’ dues to the United Nations.

Member States praised the work of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) this morning, as they took up issues related to programme planning in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

Speakers in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this morning stressed the importance of effective oversight for the continued viability and effectiveness of the United Nations, as they considered reports of the Board of Auditors, Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and newly-constituted Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC).

Following the conclusion of its discussion on the scale of assessments for the regular budget, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today took up the scale of assessments for determining Member States’ contributions in 2010-2012 for the peacekeeping operations budget, the first such review in nine years. Delegates expressed concern at an anomaly in the determination process that caused a number of developing countries to be assessed at the same level as developed economies.

As the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) took up the scale for determining Member States’ dues to the Organization’s budget in 2010-2012, the delegates emphasized the importance of following the principle of capacity to pay as the fundamental criterion in the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations and considered the main elements of the methodology used to calculate the assessments.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), during its organizational meeting this morning, agreed on its provisional programme of work for the first week of the sixty-fourth session, on the understanding that necessary adjustments would be made in the course of the session, as required.

Following several weeks of intense consultations, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this afternoon recommended to the General Assembly a peacekeeping budget approaching $7.8 billion for the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.

Following up the adoption of Security Council resolution 1872 (2009) last week, which authorized the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to carry out its existing mandate until 31 January 2010, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today took up the Secretary-General’s request for commitment authority to continue the provision of a logistical support package for the Mission, along with the continuation of technical and expert advice to the Union.

The Fifth Community (Administrative and Budgetary) this afternoon took up the proposed $68.28 million budget for the United Nations Logistics Base in Brindisi, whose role is expected to expand significantly in the financial year beginning 1 July.