European Union
u
j
Presidency
I
Check against delivery
STATEMENT AT THE COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
By Ms Elisabeth Colotte
Head of the Luxembourg Delegation
ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
NEW YORK, 11 April 2005
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and
Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia', the Countries of the Stabilization and Association
Process and potential candidates, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro,
align themselves with this declaration .
Mr Chairman, after successfully and clearly identifying the main constraints and obstacles to
implementation in the field of water, sanitation and human settlements at CSD 12, we jointly identified a set
of possible policy options and actions at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting in March that would
help us overcome those obstacles . Our readiness to commit to policy options and their concrete translation
to actions on the ground will contribute to the success of CSD13 .
In other words, we need to make effective use of and really implement the outcome of CSD 13 we
will agree on. The EU therefore welcomes the "User-friendly matrix of the Chair's IPM Summary", and the
fact that CSD 13 will reflect, in its non-negotiated outcome, the summary of all practical measures and
actions . In our view, those should be the actor's tools to implement, in a concrete and practical way, the
policy decisions that we are going to collectively agree on . To achieve this CSD13 needs to identify and
involve all the key actors to the implementation of the actions and policy decisions we take over, while
ensuring national and local ownership . The EU recommends the use of the user-friendly matrix for this
purpose and calls upon all the actors present to indicate ownership of various actions .Mr Chairman, now is
the time to work from words to commitments and from commitments to action . CSD 13 has a special
responsibility in setting a successful example for further CSD cycles . We must show that our new way of
working can bring about tangible change by solving problems in an integrated way reflecting the 3 pillars of
sustainable development.
Mr Chairman, as requested by ECOSOC, the CSD, and CSD 13 in particular, is called upon to make
its contribution to this milestone year in international development and for the United Nations as a whole .
The EU welcomes this, because, as the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United
Nations system, the Commission for Sustainable Development should promote the crucial and central
importance of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in the general development agenda. Development
cannot be lasting if it is not sustainable.
The JPOI is a comprehensive plan that incorporates essential development targets, their interlinked
social, economic and environmental components and the cross-cutting issues, therefore, its implementation is
crucial to meet the MDGs.The WSSD goals and MDGs are highly complementary . The implementation of
the JPoI is crucial to meet the MDGs . The need to tackle environment, poverty and infectious diseases in an
integrated way was strongly underlined by the High Level Panel on Threats and Challenges . CSD needs to
highlight this clearly in view of the Millennium Review Summit and ensure that sustainable development
remains on the agenda. In this respect, we welcome the S.G.'s Report "In larger freedom : towards
development, security and human rights for all" that brings the emphasis on the achievement of the MDGs,
recalling that "our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if
environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated", and indicating that now is the
time to decide and act . The CSD, in this context, should make a strong, concrete and action orientated
1 Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process
1
contribution to the Millennium Review Summit in September, focused on water, sanitation and human
settlements goals, which underpin the achievement of the other MDGs - notably on health, education, gender
and poverty. The same is true for the thematic themes of the upcoming CSD cycles: energy, climate change,
biodiversity, agriculture . CSD should clearly highlight that all developed countries, ia. through the promotion
of sustainable production and consumption, have to undertake substantial efforts to prevent the threats
arising from systematically undermining the carrying capacity of eco-systems . Effectively tackling the
challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss is thus paramount .
Our outcome should also confirm the importance of themes of the next CSD cycles, their interlinkages
and crosscutting issues, in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, as we assume the
collective responsibility to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of
sustainable development . We support the integrated and coherent implementation of the Millennium
Declaration and the MDGs, together with the Monterrey, Johannesburg and Doha commitments, including
the commitment to reach 0 .7% of the GNI, as well as those of the other relevant United Nations summits and
conferences in the social and economic and related fields .
The EU believes that the actions concerning inter-linkages and crosscutting issues are key to
enhance synergies and to manage jointly water, sanitation and human settlements, which is essential to
ensure a truly efficient and sustainable result of our efforts . Any isolated action on one, theme, even though
beneficial, is likely to have only short-term, and less efficient or sustainable, effects . The cross-sectoral
aspects of development are the basis of sustainable development per se . In our view, the implementation of
crosscutting issues of the JPOI needs to be addressed as such in the outcome of CSD13, and appear in the
negotiated outcome of CSD 13 . To overcome most of the obstacles identified during CSD 12, we need to
address in depth the fact that water, sanitation and human settlements are interdepended themes and to
actively take action to overcome the crosscutting obstacles linking these themes to other important policy
sectors which in fact create some of the major constraints to implementation and represent the prerequisites
and basis for achieving any other thematic target . Thus, we strongly recommend that a special dedicated
section addressing key cross-cutting issues be introduced in the negotiated outcome of CSD 13 ..
Those cross-sectoral aspects of sustainable development include poverty eradication, changing
unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, sustainable management and protection of the natural
resource base of economic and social development, as well as capacity building and technology support,
good governance and finance, but also education for sustainable development and gender equality .
Adopting a pro-poor approach in all policies and actions is essential to address the close links
between water, sanitation and human settlements and poverty eradication by prioritizing policies and actions
which guarantee improved service delivery to the poorest . But it is equally important to respond to the
commitment of developed countries at WSSD to take the lead in promoting sustainable consumption and
production patterns concerning all themes, with all countries benefiting from their effort to accelerate the
shift towards a social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems .
2
Mr. Chairman, the EU has published a brochure, called "From commitments to actions", that can be
found at the back of this room . You will find there a detailed presentation of the EU's general views and
ambitions for this CSD 13, so I will only highlight a few of the principles and policies that are common to
the three sectors and seem crucial to us in allowing for economically, socially, and environmentally sound
solutions . The EU will come back, in the next few days, to its views on crucial actions in the three sectors .
1 . Mainstreaming environmental sustainability, in particular water, sanitation and human settlements in
nationally owned development strategies including National Sustainable Development Strategies and/or
Poverty Reduction Strategies to ensure the integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of
sustainable development . National Sustainable Development Strategies need to begin to be implemented
by 2005 .
2. Enhanced donor coordination and harmonisation among all stakeholders, at the national and international
level, between the International Financial Institutions and the UN organisations, and especially among
donors, taking into account the Paris Declaration
3. Improved interagency coordination both within and outside the UN system, linking specific actions to
relevant actors for implementation
4. Adopting a participatory and integrated approach in planning, implementation and follow-up of all future
development actions and projects in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements,
5. Promoting the development of urban planning and management to provide sustainable urban structures
including water, sanitation, secure tenure of land, access to basic services and affordable housing.
6. Promoting multi-level and multi-actor governance, including decentralization at the lowest appropriate
level, ensuring national ownership and responsibility in planning for all programs and actions, and
supporting local authorities and local initiatives, with special attention being paid to the role of women
and youth
7. Coherently addressing the differences and inter-linkages between rural and urban settings
8. Increasing investments and socially acceptable cost recovery mechanisms, using ODA as a lever for
attracting private investments e .g. through developing public-private partnerships, and integrating
economic benefits and costs of inaction
These principles and policies, Mr Chairman, are common to the three thematic sectors of CSD13 and
should guide our options in order to achieve early and tangible results and ensure economically, socially, and
environmentally sound solutions for peace, prosperity and sustainable development for all.
Mr Chairman, the EU also believes that a decision needs to be made during CSD 13 on the question
of monitoring and follow-up . CSD 13 should adopt necessary mechanisms to ensure the monitoring and
follow-up of commitments in the fields of water, sanitation and human settlements . These mechanisms
should be based, as far as possible, on existing processes and initiatives, and be relevant for future CSD
cycles, too . A better understanding of the respective scopes of intervention of the different stakeholders in
water and sanitation is also needed.
At the national, regional and global level, the monitoring, reporting and assessment mechanisms
should be strengthened. At the national level, countries should be supported to develop their monitoring
capacity and reporting processes in order to improve reliable data collection . Capacity building focusing on
local authorities in this respect is essential, as well as building on existing reporting instead of creating new
requirements .
At institutional level, CSD should be the main body to follow-up on, and monitor, its own
commitments. In this respect, the CSD secretariat will have to continue its role in providing a comprehensive
overview of the progress achieved towards implementation of the commitments and targets pertaining to all
CSD13 themes and their inter-linkages as part of the Secretary General's report to the review year of
respective implementation cycles. Also, the follow-up to the implementation of the MDGs is interlinked
with the follow-up to the implementation of all other international commitments, including the WSSD ones .
Within the United Nations, UN-HABITAT should be recognized as the leading agency for follow-up
and monitoring of human settlements . As for water and sanitation, a strengthened UN-WATER, including
the Joint Monitoring Program and the World Water Assessment Program, should be facilitate monitoring and
follow-up of water and sanitation commitments .
Mr Chairman, the EU is prepared to work hard for a successful CSD13 and also for its effective
follow-up and concrete implementation . The EU member states and the Commission are actively assisting
the developing countries in their efforts to meet the JPol targets and achieve the MDGs, through official
development assistance and other resources, including the assistance to United Nations bodies and to
international financial institutions . Allow me to mention here that the EU member states and the Commission
are actively assisting the developing countries in their efforts to meet the MDG's and JPoI targets, through
official development assistance and other sources, including the assitance to United Nations bodies and the
international financial institutions . I would like here to give some examples of how the EU contributes to the
delivery of its international commitments .
With regard to water an sanitation, the EU is collectively implementing and further developing the EU
Water Initiative and the EU Water Facility, a major contribution to meeting the MDGs and JPoI targets
related to water and sanitation They both respond to several of the obstacles that have been identified by
CSD 13 and policy measures that are needed .
The European Union will continue to develop the EU Water Initiative as an avenue for a strategic
dialogue with the development partners, in Africa and in other world regions. Within the context of an
integrated approach to water resources management, the EU Water Initiative provides the framework for the
development and implementation of strategic partnerships for water and sanitation
Together with the partners in the ACP Cotonou agreement the EU has created the ACP-EU Water
Facility as a new tool under the European Development Fund . This new grant facility has been provided with
initially 250 million EURO / 500 million EURO earmarked for high-quality projects developed by
governments, local authorities and civil society. A call for proposals has generated a large number of
proposals, which are now under review . We are presently considering to allocate an additional 250 million
EURO to this facility.
The main principles guiding our action include : focusing on a demand-driven, country-based and
country-led approach, avoiding duplication of work in a complementary way, aiming for a wide coverage of
4
I
aid modalities, improving aid effectiveness and coordination, focusing on implementation, or openness of all
donor initiatives, working in an open, transparent and inclusive multi-stakeholder process, catalyzing new
funding, where required.
As regards human settlements, the EU is working with UN Habitat. The EU adhered to the
HABITAT II Agenda in 1996 and has a longstanding tradition of caring for its towns and cities as a precious
heritage and as a dynamic asset that needs strategic planning for sustainable development in the future,
emphasizing the importance of housing rights and of realizing Agenda 21
One area of focus by the EU is to help Sub-Saharan countries to upscale urban issues in the global
development agenda, therefore increasing funding for the sector . Another area of focus is to develop
common research activities to accelerate the development of new approaches, tools and technologies that are
needed by the local authorities to tackle increasingly complex urban management and planning issues . In this
respect, the European Commission and UN-HABITAT are establishing a joint database that will gather
practical tools that can support the capacity building of local authorities and other relevant urban actors .
Thank you for your attention .
PRESS RELEASE
UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel. 212-415-4050
FAX 212-415-4053
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 068 (05)
April 11, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Jonathan Margolis, Special Representative for Sustainable Development, at
the 13`h Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, April 11, 2005
Mr. Chairman, the Policy Session we begin here today will cap the CSD's first-ever twoyear
"implementation cycle." The United States is encouraged by what this cycle has
already accomplished . Through the new two-year format, we have built political
momentum for addressing our water and sanitation goals. We have integrated
partnerships into the conduct of our work . Thanks to the leadership of Italy and
Morocco, we have expanded our reach from the basements of the UN to Partnerships
Fora in Rome and Marrakech . Hundreds of people have received training and capacity
building through Learning Centres at CSD and at other UN events . Thanks to the
innovative matrix you produced as an outcome of the Intergovernmental Preparatory
Meeting (IPM), we now have a user-friendly set of policy options and practical steps to
guide implementation .
Clearly, we still have a long way to go toward achieving the international development
goals of the Millennium Declaration. We face complex challenges . As Minister Borge
Brende identified, we must address financing ; we must increase capacity, especially in
the developing world; we must integrate action on water into broader development
efforts. The future of our work will become even more complex, as actors, institutions,
and programs multiply. Some may find it tempting to seek centralized control over this
diffuse and complex system. However, future efforts are likely to be increasingly spread
out, increasingly specialized, and increasingly local . Our challenge here is to try to find a
way to help all those efforts, all those projects, work towards the same goals .
Rapid technological changes are enabling the interconnection of all the knowledge pools
in the world . This opens up great possibilities for international organizations,
governments, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on sustainable
development. The CSD Secretariat can play a critical role in this emerging
implementation network by disseminating knowledge and information, and making
greater use of web-based technologies .
This network will necessarily contain a range of governments, international organizations
and non-governmental actors . Sometimes a government make take the lead, and other
times international organizations and non-governmental actors might step forward . In
each case, groups of likeminded actors will join together to implement their common
priorities . Some may come together to work on water and health . Some may focus on
integrated water resources management. Some may address transboundary water issues .
And some might focus on financing .
Periodically, it may be useful to undertake a bit of stocktaking . We are gratified that the
World Bank and regional development banks are developing mechanisms, such as World
Bank Water Week, where experts and practitioners can come together to examine
successes and chart progress . Other events, such as the World Water Forum and
Stockholm Water Week, can enrich this process and we look forward to a vibrant UNWater
playing a role.
Mr. Chairman, the CSD is charting a new course as the UN turns towards
implementation. The best message that this CSD can deliver is to show how a reformed
UN process that integrates the actions of governments, international organizations, and a
range of non-governmental players can deliver concrete results . I am hopeful that this
session and future CSD cycles will inspire actors across the board - whether here, in
other UN fora, or in local communities far flung around the world: to take part in this
implementation era .
j
Presidency
I
Check against delivery
STATEMENT AT THE COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
By Ms Elisabeth Colotte
Head of the Luxembourg Delegation
ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
NEW YORK, 11 April 2005
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and
Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia', the Countries of the Stabilization and Association
Process and potential candidates, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro,
align themselves with this declaration .
Mr Chairman, after successfully and clearly identifying the main constraints and obstacles to
implementation in the field of water, sanitation and human settlements at CSD 12, we jointly identified a set
of possible policy options and actions at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting in March that would
help us overcome those obstacles . Our readiness to commit to policy options and their concrete translation
to actions on the ground will contribute to the success of CSD13 .
In other words, we need to make effective use of and really implement the outcome of CSD 13 we
will agree on. The EU therefore welcomes the "User-friendly matrix of the Chair's IPM Summary", and the
fact that CSD 13 will reflect, in its non-negotiated outcome, the summary of all practical measures and
actions . In our view, those should be the actor's tools to implement, in a concrete and practical way, the
policy decisions that we are going to collectively agree on . To achieve this CSD13 needs to identify and
involve all the key actors to the implementation of the actions and policy decisions we take over, while
ensuring national and local ownership . The EU recommends the use of the user-friendly matrix for this
purpose and calls upon all the actors present to indicate ownership of various actions .Mr Chairman, now is
the time to work from words to commitments and from commitments to action . CSD 13 has a special
responsibility in setting a successful example for further CSD cycles . We must show that our new way of
working can bring about tangible change by solving problems in an integrated way reflecting the 3 pillars of
sustainable development.
Mr Chairman, as requested by ECOSOC, the CSD, and CSD 13 in particular, is called upon to make
its contribution to this milestone year in international development and for the United Nations as a whole .
The EU welcomes this, because, as the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United
Nations system, the Commission for Sustainable Development should promote the crucial and central
importance of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in the general development agenda. Development
cannot be lasting if it is not sustainable.
The JPOI is a comprehensive plan that incorporates essential development targets, their interlinked
social, economic and environmental components and the cross-cutting issues, therefore, its implementation is
crucial to meet the MDGs.The WSSD goals and MDGs are highly complementary . The implementation of
the JPoI is crucial to meet the MDGs . The need to tackle environment, poverty and infectious diseases in an
integrated way was strongly underlined by the High Level Panel on Threats and Challenges . CSD needs to
highlight this clearly in view of the Millennium Review Summit and ensure that sustainable development
remains on the agenda. In this respect, we welcome the S.G.'s Report "In larger freedom : towards
development, security and human rights for all" that brings the emphasis on the achievement of the MDGs,
recalling that "our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if
environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated", and indicating that now is the
time to decide and act . The CSD, in this context, should make a strong, concrete and action orientated
1 Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process
1
contribution to the Millennium Review Summit in September, focused on water, sanitation and human
settlements goals, which underpin the achievement of the other MDGs - notably on health, education, gender
and poverty. The same is true for the thematic themes of the upcoming CSD cycles: energy, climate change,
biodiversity, agriculture . CSD should clearly highlight that all developed countries, ia. through the promotion
of sustainable production and consumption, have to undertake substantial efforts to prevent the threats
arising from systematically undermining the carrying capacity of eco-systems . Effectively tackling the
challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss is thus paramount .
Our outcome should also confirm the importance of themes of the next CSD cycles, their interlinkages
and crosscutting issues, in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, as we assume the
collective responsibility to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of
sustainable development . We support the integrated and coherent implementation of the Millennium
Declaration and the MDGs, together with the Monterrey, Johannesburg and Doha commitments, including
the commitment to reach 0 .7% of the GNI, as well as those of the other relevant United Nations summits and
conferences in the social and economic and related fields .
The EU believes that the actions concerning inter-linkages and crosscutting issues are key to
enhance synergies and to manage jointly water, sanitation and human settlements, which is essential to
ensure a truly efficient and sustainable result of our efforts . Any isolated action on one, theme, even though
beneficial, is likely to have only short-term, and less efficient or sustainable, effects . The cross-sectoral
aspects of development are the basis of sustainable development per se . In our view, the implementation of
crosscutting issues of the JPOI needs to be addressed as such in the outcome of CSD13, and appear in the
negotiated outcome of CSD 13 . To overcome most of the obstacles identified during CSD 12, we need to
address in depth the fact that water, sanitation and human settlements are interdepended themes and to
actively take action to overcome the crosscutting obstacles linking these themes to other important policy
sectors which in fact create some of the major constraints to implementation and represent the prerequisites
and basis for achieving any other thematic target . Thus, we strongly recommend that a special dedicated
section addressing key cross-cutting issues be introduced in the negotiated outcome of CSD 13 ..
Those cross-sectoral aspects of sustainable development include poverty eradication, changing
unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, sustainable management and protection of the natural
resource base of economic and social development, as well as capacity building and technology support,
good governance and finance, but also education for sustainable development and gender equality .
Adopting a pro-poor approach in all policies and actions is essential to address the close links
between water, sanitation and human settlements and poverty eradication by prioritizing policies and actions
which guarantee improved service delivery to the poorest . But it is equally important to respond to the
commitment of developed countries at WSSD to take the lead in promoting sustainable consumption and
production patterns concerning all themes, with all countries benefiting from their effort to accelerate the
shift towards a social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems .
2
Mr. Chairman, the EU has published a brochure, called "From commitments to actions", that can be
found at the back of this room . You will find there a detailed presentation of the EU's general views and
ambitions for this CSD 13, so I will only highlight a few of the principles and policies that are common to
the three sectors and seem crucial to us in allowing for economically, socially, and environmentally sound
solutions . The EU will come back, in the next few days, to its views on crucial actions in the three sectors .
1 . Mainstreaming environmental sustainability, in particular water, sanitation and human settlements in
nationally owned development strategies including National Sustainable Development Strategies and/or
Poverty Reduction Strategies to ensure the integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of
sustainable development . National Sustainable Development Strategies need to begin to be implemented
by 2005 .
2. Enhanced donor coordination and harmonisation among all stakeholders, at the national and international
level, between the International Financial Institutions and the UN organisations, and especially among
donors, taking into account the Paris Declaration
3. Improved interagency coordination both within and outside the UN system, linking specific actions to
relevant actors for implementation
4. Adopting a participatory and integrated approach in planning, implementation and follow-up of all future
development actions and projects in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements,
5. Promoting the development of urban planning and management to provide sustainable urban structures
including water, sanitation, secure tenure of land, access to basic services and affordable housing.
6. Promoting multi-level and multi-actor governance, including decentralization at the lowest appropriate
level, ensuring national ownership and responsibility in planning for all programs and actions, and
supporting local authorities and local initiatives, with special attention being paid to the role of women
and youth
7. Coherently addressing the differences and inter-linkages between rural and urban settings
8. Increasing investments and socially acceptable cost recovery mechanisms, using ODA as a lever for
attracting private investments e .g. through developing public-private partnerships, and integrating
economic benefits and costs of inaction
These principles and policies, Mr Chairman, are common to the three thematic sectors of CSD13 and
should guide our options in order to achieve early and tangible results and ensure economically, socially, and
environmentally sound solutions for peace, prosperity and sustainable development for all.
Mr Chairman, the EU also believes that a decision needs to be made during CSD 13 on the question
of monitoring and follow-up . CSD 13 should adopt necessary mechanisms to ensure the monitoring and
follow-up of commitments in the fields of water, sanitation and human settlements . These mechanisms
should be based, as far as possible, on existing processes and initiatives, and be relevant for future CSD
cycles, too . A better understanding of the respective scopes of intervention of the different stakeholders in
water and sanitation is also needed.
At the national, regional and global level, the monitoring, reporting and assessment mechanisms
should be strengthened. At the national level, countries should be supported to develop their monitoring
capacity and reporting processes in order to improve reliable data collection . Capacity building focusing on
local authorities in this respect is essential, as well as building on existing reporting instead of creating new
requirements .
At institutional level, CSD should be the main body to follow-up on, and monitor, its own
commitments. In this respect, the CSD secretariat will have to continue its role in providing a comprehensive
overview of the progress achieved towards implementation of the commitments and targets pertaining to all
CSD13 themes and their inter-linkages as part of the Secretary General's report to the review year of
respective implementation cycles. Also, the follow-up to the implementation of the MDGs is interlinked
with the follow-up to the implementation of all other international commitments, including the WSSD ones .
Within the United Nations, UN-HABITAT should be recognized as the leading agency for follow-up
and monitoring of human settlements . As for water and sanitation, a strengthened UN-WATER, including
the Joint Monitoring Program and the World Water Assessment Program, should be facilitate monitoring and
follow-up of water and sanitation commitments .
Mr Chairman, the EU is prepared to work hard for a successful CSD13 and also for its effective
follow-up and concrete implementation . The EU member states and the Commission are actively assisting
the developing countries in their efforts to meet the JPol targets and achieve the MDGs, through official
development assistance and other resources, including the assistance to United Nations bodies and to
international financial institutions . Allow me to mention here that the EU member states and the Commission
are actively assisting the developing countries in their efforts to meet the MDG's and JPoI targets, through
official development assistance and other sources, including the assitance to United Nations bodies and the
international financial institutions . I would like here to give some examples of how the EU contributes to the
delivery of its international commitments .
With regard to water an sanitation, the EU is collectively implementing and further developing the EU
Water Initiative and the EU Water Facility, a major contribution to meeting the MDGs and JPoI targets
related to water and sanitation They both respond to several of the obstacles that have been identified by
CSD 13 and policy measures that are needed .
The European Union will continue to develop the EU Water Initiative as an avenue for a strategic
dialogue with the development partners, in Africa and in other world regions. Within the context of an
integrated approach to water resources management, the EU Water Initiative provides the framework for the
development and implementation of strategic partnerships for water and sanitation
Together with the partners in the ACP Cotonou agreement the EU has created the ACP-EU Water
Facility as a new tool under the European Development Fund . This new grant facility has been provided with
initially 250 million EURO / 500 million EURO earmarked for high-quality projects developed by
governments, local authorities and civil society. A call for proposals has generated a large number of
proposals, which are now under review . We are presently considering to allocate an additional 250 million
EURO to this facility.
The main principles guiding our action include : focusing on a demand-driven, country-based and
country-led approach, avoiding duplication of work in a complementary way, aiming for a wide coverage of
4
I
aid modalities, improving aid effectiveness and coordination, focusing on implementation, or openness of all
donor initiatives, working in an open, transparent and inclusive multi-stakeholder process, catalyzing new
funding, where required.
As regards human settlements, the EU is working with UN Habitat. The EU adhered to the
HABITAT II Agenda in 1996 and has a longstanding tradition of caring for its towns and cities as a precious
heritage and as a dynamic asset that needs strategic planning for sustainable development in the future,
emphasizing the importance of housing rights and of realizing Agenda 21
One area of focus by the EU is to help Sub-Saharan countries to upscale urban issues in the global
development agenda, therefore increasing funding for the sector . Another area of focus is to develop
common research activities to accelerate the development of new approaches, tools and technologies that are
needed by the local authorities to tackle increasingly complex urban management and planning issues . In this
respect, the European Commission and UN-HABITAT are establishing a joint database that will gather
practical tools that can support the capacity building of local authorities and other relevant urban actors .
Thank you for your attention .
PRESS RELEASE
UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel. 212-415-4050
FAX 212-415-4053
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 068 (05)
April 11, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Jonathan Margolis, Special Representative for Sustainable Development, at
the 13`h Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, April 11, 2005
Mr. Chairman, the Policy Session we begin here today will cap the CSD's first-ever twoyear
"implementation cycle." The United States is encouraged by what this cycle has
already accomplished . Through the new two-year format, we have built political
momentum for addressing our water and sanitation goals. We have integrated
partnerships into the conduct of our work . Thanks to the leadership of Italy and
Morocco, we have expanded our reach from the basements of the UN to Partnerships
Fora in Rome and Marrakech . Hundreds of people have received training and capacity
building through Learning Centres at CSD and at other UN events . Thanks to the
innovative matrix you produced as an outcome of the Intergovernmental Preparatory
Meeting (IPM), we now have a user-friendly set of policy options and practical steps to
guide implementation .
Clearly, we still have a long way to go toward achieving the international development
goals of the Millennium Declaration. We face complex challenges . As Minister Borge
Brende identified, we must address financing ; we must increase capacity, especially in
the developing world; we must integrate action on water into broader development
efforts. The future of our work will become even more complex, as actors, institutions,
and programs multiply. Some may find it tempting to seek centralized control over this
diffuse and complex system. However, future efforts are likely to be increasingly spread
out, increasingly specialized, and increasingly local . Our challenge here is to try to find a
way to help all those efforts, all those projects, work towards the same goals .
Rapid technological changes are enabling the interconnection of all the knowledge pools
in the world . This opens up great possibilities for international organizations,
governments, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on sustainable
development. The CSD Secretariat can play a critical role in this emerging
implementation network by disseminating knowledge and information, and making
greater use of web-based technologies .
This network will necessarily contain a range of governments, international organizations
and non-governmental actors . Sometimes a government make take the lead, and other
times international organizations and non-governmental actors might step forward . In
each case, groups of likeminded actors will join together to implement their common
priorities . Some may come together to work on water and health . Some may focus on
integrated water resources management. Some may address transboundary water issues .
And some might focus on financing .
Periodically, it may be useful to undertake a bit of stocktaking . We are gratified that the
World Bank and regional development banks are developing mechanisms, such as World
Bank Water Week, where experts and practitioners can come together to examine
successes and chart progress . Other events, such as the World Water Forum and
Stockholm Water Week, can enrich this process and we look forward to a vibrant UNWater
playing a role.
Mr. Chairman, the CSD is charting a new course as the UN turns towards
implementation. The best message that this CSD can deliver is to show how a reformed
UN process that integrates the actions of governments, international organizations, and a
range of non-governmental players can deliver concrete results . I am hopeful that this
session and future CSD cycles will inspire actors across the board - whether here, in
other UN fora, or in local communities far flung around the world: to take part in this
implementation era .