Brussels, 04/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the invitation of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, European Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, will take part in the work of a high level panel in New York, to which he will present his ideas on reform of the United Nations. These ideas focus on “structural de-fragmentation”, greater “political responsibility” and “North-South Justice” in the areas of development, humanitarian aid and the environment. This panel meets on 5-7 April and is made up of high level representatives such as Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar, Pakistani Prime Minister Shauka Azis, Prime Ministers from Mozambique Luisa Dias Diego and from Norway Jens Stoltenberg, as well as British Minister for the Economy and Finance, Gordon Brown. On Monday Mr Michel informed journalists that, “We are meeting up to explore how the United Nations system can work more coherently and efficiently at a global level”. He explained that “what really is at stake is the legitimacy of the UN as an instrument of global governance”. In an attempt to enhance this legitimacy, which he believes has been “significantly weakened”, the Commissioner is planning three kinds of measures. Firstly, he wants to see “correction of the current fragmentation” experienced by the organisation and to this end proposes the “pruning off the superfluous agencies in the UN”. Mr Michel explains that if necessary, there could be a reduction in personnel. In this connection he mentioned the UNDP, which he believes should become a “supra” development programme that brings together all the different bodies involved in this area. In an effort to increase the organisation's profile the Commissioner is also proposing to make key figures in institutions politically responsible and to create several posts of Deputy Secretary General. Louis Michel affirmed that, “the idea is to strengthen the role of Secretary General by making it a political authority in the world, as well as the guardian and promoter of global governance…and to have six or seven Deputy Secretary Generals assist him, each responsible for their specific sector”. The Commission added that the UN should not only be “representative of world reality” but must also work for greater “justice North and South”. Given that “the world consists of ten major regions” that have never had to opportunity of sitting down at the same table, Louis Michel considers that “a permanent representative” of each region should have a seat at the organisation. According to Michel, WTO or even ILO representatives could be integrated into this group. Mr Michel let it be known that the European Commission could then develop its status as an observer, which it has had since 1974, into something more prestigious, when its place at the UN General Assembly is discussed, which currently “is right at the back of the building”. According to the Commission, panel proposals should be viable and encourage Member States of the United Nations to assume their responsibilities.
The group is due to meet up again in June, July and August and has set itself the aim of producing a study by the end of the summer to be presented at the General Assembly session in September.