UN/ECE: A REGIONAL OUTPOST OF THE UNITED NATIONS
1 July 1998
Questioning the relevance of the United Nations' Regional
Commissions is a thing of the past: they have just received a
renewed commitment from Member States, which have formally
recognized their role and place within the United Nations.
This commitment was made on 27 July 1998 and delivered
by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which
has reviewed the activities of the Regional Commissions. The
major assets and functions of the Regional Commissions are
highlighted in the ECOSOC resolution which was adopted on that
date in conclusion of the review.
ECOSOC considered that one of the major roles of Regional
Commissions is to be the United Nations outposts in their
respective parts of the world, thus offering an important forum
for articulating regional perspectives on global issues. At the
same time, ECOSOC also recognized their important role in
building consensus within their regions as the Regional
Commissions are fully part of their regional institutional
landscape. It was felt that this capacity should be more widely
used by UN bodies, funds and programmes.
An important role is also the involvement of Regional
Commissions in the preparation for and follow-up to major UN
conferences. In the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UN/ECE) this has been demonstrated for the Rio Conference
on Environment and Development, the Cairo Conference on
Population and the Beijing Conference on Women.
Furthermore, ECOSOC welcomed the effort of reform undertaken
and achieved by the Regional Commissions. Particular reference
was made to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UN/ECE).
The delegation of Austria, speaking on behalf of the European
Union, said: "As to the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe, we welcome the good progress which has been made in
the implementation of the Plan of Action, which contains a number
of substantive and institutional reforms. The ECE has very well
defined its niche in a complex institutional environment."
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, and Slovenia aligned themselves with this statement.
The delegation of the United States also stressed that: "We
have followed the reform efforts in the five commissions with
great interest. We are especially pleased with the work done so
far in the ECE and ECLAC," ... "we think ECE and ECLAC
have done good jobs at prioritisation." The Russian
delegation stressed that "We commend the reform efforts of
ESCAP and ECE, which allowed the commissions to rationalize their
work." ... "In this context, we positively note the
efforts by ECE and ESCAP secretariats, and in particular of the
Executive Secretaries, in promoting reform".
For further information, please contact:
Information Unit
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: + (4122) 917 44 44
Fax: + (4122) 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]