ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR
EUROPE CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITHIN
THE ECE REGION
22 April 1998
The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
continued its fifty-third session this morning with discussions
on strengthening cooperation within the region.
Presenting a report on operational activities
and cooperation with subregional groupings, interests and
initiatives, Yves Berthelot, Executive Secretary of the ECE, said
the document raised a certain number of questions, notably
whether, in conducting operational activities, preference should
be given to requests from subregional groupings or individual
countries; and whether activities should be focused on the
worst-off transition economies.
In the ensuing debate, delegates expressed
support for the operational activities of the ECE and its
cooperation with subregional groupings. They supported a balanced
approach between subregional groupings and individual countries
and they encouraged the Executive Secretary to consider each
request on its merits. Many delegates underlined the importance
of avoiding duplication with other organizations. It was also
pointed out that particular attention should be paid to
transition economies, notably those in a difficult situation, and
to cooperation in the Mediterranean region.
This morning ECE members also set up an ad hoc
working group to establish a set of principles and operational
guidelines to govern participation of the business community in
the work of the Commission. The aim of the initiative, it was
highlighted, was to maintain governmental control of the ECE
programme while increasing the participation of the business
community. Mr. Berthelot suggested the working group, to be
composed of country representatives and members of the
secretariat, be open-ended in nature. Work should begin as soon
as possible and the first report should be presented at the
special session of Commission in the fall.
At the afternoon session, the ECE discussed the
implementation of a reform programme and preparations for the
Economic and Social Council review of the regional commissions of
the United Nations. Members exchanged views on the implementation
of the reform and on intersectoral issues and cross-sectoral
concerns. A number of decisions on the further implementation of
the Plan of Action were also adopted.
The ECE will reconvene at 10 a.m., Thursday 23
April, to wrap-up its fifty-third session.
Operational Activities and Cooperation with
Subregional Groupings, Interests and Initiatives
Presenting a report on operational activities
and cooperation with subregional groupings, interests and
initiatives (document E/ECE/1359), Yves Berthelot, Executive
Secretary of the ECE, said the document provided information on
the activities of regional advisers, as well as on seminars,
workshops, training programmes and operational activities for
subregional groupings. Technical assistance was provided to help
countries implement ECE policy standards and orientations.
Mr. Berthelot said the document raised a
certain number of questions, notably whether, in conducting
operational activities, preference should be given to requests
from subregional groupings or individual countries; and if
activities should be focused on those transition economies which
are the most in need of support.
Mr. Berthelot pointed that ECE responds both to
requests from individual countries and from subregional
programmes and initiatives. Concerning the latter, the ECE
cooperated closely with the Special Programme for Economies of
Central Asia (SPECA) and supported the Southeast European
Cooperative Initiative (SECI) set up in December 1996 to
encourage cooperation among countries of the region. The
intention was not to create more subregional groupings but to
facilitate assistance granted to countries facing similar
problems. Concerning requests from countries, Mr. Berthelot
highlighted the Belarus project to set up a centre for
subregional sustainable development for countries with transition
economies.
The problems of resources continued to hamper
the ECE's operational activities for both recipient countries and
the secretariat, Mr. Berthelot continued. He thanked the
32 countries that had contributed to the relevant trust
funds. The substantial contribution of the Netherlands deserved
special attention.
Following the introduction of the report, the
representative of Belarus said the Government planned to
establish a Centre for subregional sustainable development which
would develop programmes for countries with transition economies
in the region. He appealed to the Commission to support the
initiative.
The representative of Turkey said in
view of recent developments in Europe, the ECE should redefine
its assistance to transition economies; it should adopt a more
selective approach now that those countries no longer formed a
homogeneous bloc. As resources were limited, priority should be
given to subregional groupings and countries outside the scope of
European Union (EU) assistance.
The representative of Bulgaria warned
that the assistance to groups of countries should not lead to a
new categorization of countries. The ECE should strengthen
cooperation with both subregional groupings and national
authorities.
The representative of Kazakhstan said
the country's President had developed a subregional programme to
provide assistance to the States of Central Asia. The programme
aimed at developing cooperation among the five Central Asian
countries and facilitate their integration into both Asia and
Europe. A centre for subregional sustainable development was an
attractive idea.
The representative of the United States said he did not exclude assistance to subregional groupings or
national authorities. The Executive Secretary should evaluate the
impact of the programme and avoid duplications with other
organisations. The ECE proved it was able to adapt to new
situations with the SECI innovative programme which dealt with
common economic and environmental issues. SECI was an excellent
example of successful cooperation.
The representative of the United Kingdom,
also speaking on behalf of the EU, said the ECE should direct
resources to the countries with the greatest needs, whether they
were in subregional groupings or not; requests from individual
countries should therefore not be excluded. The ECE should
cooperate with the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) and the World Bank, and avoid duplication with
the work of other organizations. He agreed more attention should
be paid to granting assistance to Mediterranean countries.
The representative of the Russian Federation said a comprehensive analysis should be carried out of
operational activities as a separate agenda. He welcomed the
Belarus project to establish a subregional centre for sustainable
development for transition economies; it was important to
consider all proposals on their merits and for the ECE to follow
a balanced approach. The work of the Commission should not be
fragmented along subregional lines. More focus should be given to
countries with transition economies in a difficult situation.
The representative of the EU welcomed the
development of subregional cooperation. The Southeast European
Cooperation Initiative (SECI) was a good example of the ways in
which the ECE could make its work known. The EU cooperated fully
with SECI and was involved in many of the SECI project groups,
notably in areas of border crossings and the three energy
projects. The EU did not give priority assistance to individual
or to a group of countries: priority was established according to
the needs of the country and the bilateral ties it had with the
EU.
The representative of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC), said BSEC was the largest regional
cooperation in existence. Important progress had been made by
countries with transition economies, although more still needed
to be done to secure self-sustaining growth. With the softening
of the political climate, the atmosphere was more conducive to
sustainable development and growth. The 11 member States of the
BSEC welcomed cooperation with the ECE and agencies of the United
Nations.
The representative of the Southeast European
Cooperation Initiative (SECI), said SECI aimed at establishing
peace and security in southeast Europe on the basis of
cross-border cooperation. It had received support from the ECE
and had coordinated its efforts with other subregional groups and
the EU. Meanwhile, SECI's Business Advisory Council worked to
make the region more attractive to investors. SECI thanked all
the States that participated in its work and supported its
projects.
A number of other representatives took the
floor in support of operational activities and cooperation with
subregional groupings. The ECE should consider each proposal on
its merits and adopt a balanced approach between subregional
groupings and individual countries, it was said. Particular
attention should be paid to transition economies, notably those
in a difficult situation, and to cooperation in the Mediterranean
region, participants indicated.
Mr. Berthelot thanked the delegates for their
observations and took note with interest of the many points made
by representatives, notably that cooperation with various groups
should be pragmatic, and that projects should be judged in terms
of how effective they could be. He wished to underline the fact
that the ECE had excellent cooperation with the Brussels
Commission concerning SECI. He agreed with the need to further
develop cooperation in the Mediterranean, adding that financing
for projects in that region was lacking. He would continue the
dialogue and work towards greater efficiency with subregional
groups and Nordic associations, in particular in the field of the
environment.
Cooperation with the Business Community and
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Presenting a report on cooperation between the
ECE and the business community (document E/ECE/1360), Mr.
Berthelot said the ECE's Plan of Action called for the
development of further cooperation with the private sector in a
transparent framework to ensure respect for the principles of
neutrality and objectivity. The Plan of Action called for the
setting up of an ad hoc working group to discuss the
relationships between the business community, member Governments
and the secretariat. Such a working group would establish a set
of principles and operational guidelines to govern participation
of the business community in the work of the Commission, the aim
being to maintain governmental control of the ECE programme while
increasing participation of the business community. He suggested
the working group should be composed of country representatives
and members of the secretariat, and be open-ended in nature. Work
should begin as soon as possible and the first report should be
presented at the special session of the Commission in the fall.
The ECE adopted the proposal. Some members
pointed to the fact such an ad hoc working group should also
consider cooperation with NGOs.
Responding, Mr. Berthelot said the secretariat
would be in touch with the New York Working Group in charge of a
similar task to ensure the thinking of delegates was made known
to the ad hoc working group. The intention, at this stage, was to
increase cooperation with the business community and professional
associations. Cooperation with NGOs with a wider mandate would be
envisaged at later stage.
Reform Measures and Preparations for ECOSOC
Review
The ECE discussed, this afternoon, the
implementation of its programme of reforms. Debate was based on
the Plan of Action drawn up last year to provide a comprehensive
framework to translate into action the strategic directions
highlighted in the Declaration on the Strengthening of Economic
Cooperation in Europe (see document E/ECE/1347); and on a note by
the ECE's Executive Secretary on the implementation of the reform
(document E/ECE/1361).
The Plan of Action is aimed at providing a new
thrust for ECE work in the years ahead. It is based on a vision
that the ECE would continue to facilitate and strengthen the
involvement of all member countries in harmonious economic
relations. Chapter I of the Plan presents the general
orientations and main changes both for the programme of work as a
whole and for each particular area of work. Chapters II, III, IV
and V deal, respectively, with cross-sectoral issues, working
methods and efficiency, relations with other bodies, and
relations with other actors. The ECE areas of work are:
environment; transport; statistics; trade, industry and
enterprise development; economic analysis; energy; timber; human
settlements and coordinating unit for operational activities.
Presenting the report on implementation of the
ECE reform, Mr. Berthelot, Executive Secretary of the ECE, said
the Plan of Action was being put into effect rapidly and
efficiently. Among other measures, the secretariat had redeployed
staff, while the principal subsidiary bodies (PSB) had revised
their programmes of work and adopted new working methods. The ECE
had also reorganized its work; the seminar carried out earlier
this week was a successful example of how the organization had
done this. Certain decisions remained to be taken, however, and
prioritization was still necessary in some areas.
Mr. Berthelot said he was convinced the ECE,
with its present flexibility and in the light of the activity
carried out thus far, was a useful and effective organization
which had extensive expertise in drawing up conventions and
setting standards. It was not being used to its full potential,
however; greater attention should be paid to how that could be
done. Members should "think ECE".
The ECE adopted decisions relating to: the
renaming of Meeting of Experts of the Inland Transport Committee
and the Committee on Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development
(CTIED); the composition of the Bureau of CTIED; the format of
the report of the bodies related to the principal subsidiary
bodies (PSB) and the review of the ECE publications. A decision
on guidelines for the priority ranking of PSB activities was
postponed until tomorrow morning.
For further information
please contact:
Information Unit
United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations, Room 370
CH - 1211 GENEVA 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 44 44
Fax: +41 22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org