The high-level meeting of the General Assembly in September represents a unique opportunity to move the international agenda forward and promote peace & security, development and respect for human rights. We should challenge ourselves to be as concrete as possible in our decisions, and when possible set timetables and deadlines for achieving the agreed results. In the development area, today’s meeting is one of the most important. I look forward to a constructive and decision-oriented discussion today on how to take the Monterrey consensus forward and on commitments that will allow us to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
This is a decisive year for development efforts. We have taken important decisions in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in March 2005. Indicators for measuring progress are currently being developed and will be ready for adoption before the High-level meeting. In September, governments should commit to fully implementing the Paris Declaration by 2010.
We urge all donors to look at how obstacles for harmonization and alignment can be removed. We urge partner countries to – with the support of donors – promote further reforms to improve systems for public financial management, for reporting and for monitoring and evaluation. We urge all other development actors to immediately take steps to make the necessary changes in their policies, administrative routines, and budgeting systems to be able to fully align themselves with the Paris Declaration. For our part, Sweden will aim to achieve some of the goals earlier than 2010.
The recent decisions by the EU to set an ambitious timetable for achieving 0.7% by 2015, with 0.56% as an interim goal for 2010, constitute an important and concrete contribution to the UN High Level Meeting in September. They demonstrate the willingness of both old and new member states to assume shared responsibility for the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus. I would like to encourage all other donor countries to establish clear, time-bound plans to reach the 0.7 % target as soon as possible.
Debt reduction is another tool to achieve better and more predictable development financing. Sweden welcomes the recent proposal from the G8 meeting of finance ministers to cancel the debt owed to WB, African Development Bank and IMF for a number of poor, debt-distressed countries. It is however crucial to ensure that this initiative does not undermine the ability of the international financial institutions to provide poor countries with grants and concessional development financing in the years to come. We call on all parties to safeguard the financial strength and lending capacity of the international financial institutions, including the IMF, both in the short and long-term, on the basis of a fair burden sharing. Donors also need to complement debt cancellation by supporting country owned efforts to improve good governance, fight corruption and build capacities.
Trade may be the most important engine for growth in developing countries. Access to the markets of developed countries must be improved. At the High-level meeting, world leaders should resolve to complete the WTO Doha Round no later than 2006, with full commitment to realizing its ambitious development focus. Failure to do so would be a serious setback to development efforts. As a first step we should provide immediate duty-free and quota-free access for all exports from the LDC:s. The EU has already adopted the “Everything but arms”-initiative. Other important trading partners should make similar efforts. However, we also need to work towards the abolishment of all exports subsidies and other forms of trade distorting subsidies. Trade distorting internal support, such as agricultural subsidies, should be phased out. Developing countries should also systematically integrate trade into their development policies and poverty reduction strategies.
Trade related assistance is key for enabling developing countries to take full advantage of the opportunities available. Sweden takes active part in the discussions on a possible international mechanism on trade related assistance.
Mr. Chairman,
The Monterrey Consensus is based on the principle of shared responsibility, recognizing that developing countries are responsible for their own development. In order to reach the MDGs, fully integrating them into existing PRSs should be a priority. The UN system has an important role in supporting this process, but implementing UN reform both at headquarters and country level is a prerequisite for optimal performance. Particular attention must being given to cross-cutting issues such as gender, environmental sustainability, health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and education. However, the proliferation of vertical funds must be avoided, to ensure a coherent approach.
Good political and economic governance is key for sustainable and equitable development. It involves institutional reform and fighting corruption, genuine participation and democracy, and ensuring respect and protection of human rights. Good governance is also the foundation for an effective use of domestic and external resources. Two concerns stand out: ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources, as an important way to contribute i. a. to a good investment climate, and delivering employment. Increasing joblessness has marked several growth economies. As a direct consequence, poverty has become entrenched.
The NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism is an important regional initiative for ensuring reforms in the governance sector. We expect that the results of the reviews will lead to tangible changes. We stand ready to support in the implementation.
Finally, the issues I have mentioned above are all dealt with within different institutions – UN, WTO, the BWIs. In order to ensure a coherent approach to development, a more holistic, or systemic, view of the international financial architecture needs to be developed. A clearer division of labor among major actors such as the bilateral development actors the UN agencies, the international finance institutions and the WTO needs to be developed. The private sector and civil society need to be involved in a systematic way. Developing countries role in decision-making should be ensured. We need to embark on this broader strategic discussion after the High-level meeting. Already now, however, we expect the BWI, the UN and the WTO to increase their efforts to develop systematic and seamless coordination of efforts, in peaceful as well as post-conflict situations, and in fragile states.
Thank you.