I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
Madame Chair,
The European Union would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services Nair for his presentation and for the excellent and thorough work of the OIOS. On the basis of its mandate, the Office of Internal Oversight Services plays an important role in the efforts to further improve the United Nations various funds and programmes.
The report before us shows an overall improvement, although in varying degrees, in the internal oversight mechanisms in funds and programmes. In the report, the Office of Internal Oversight Services points out certain new procedures for evaluation, monitoring and inspection as examples of improvements, thanks to the implementation of previous recommendations.
However, the European Union shares the concern of the OIOS over the lack of capacity of the funds and programmes to carry out investigations, which require specific professional skills and administrative provisions.
The European Union would like to stress the importance of adequate internal oversight services in all funds and programmes. As of today, most funds and programmes totally depend on the services of OIOS for their complex investigations. The European Union is concerned over the drain of OIOS resources that this is causing.
In conclusion, the European Union concurs with the recommendations and takes note of the report.
I thank you.