Explanation of Position

EXPLANATION OF POSITION ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY THE DELEGATION OF EGYPT BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION A/72/L.64 ENTITLED "REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 68/1 ON THE STRENGTHENING OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL" UNDER AGENDA ITEM 14 AND 117 "INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE OUTCOMES OF THE MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS IN THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RELATED FIELDS FOLLOW-UP TO THE OUTCOME OF THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT" (New York, 23 July 2018)

Mr. President,

1- I have the honor on behalf or the Group of 77 and China to deliver the following explanation of position statement before the adoption of the draft resolution A/72/L.64 entitled "Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council", under agenda Item 14 and 117 .

2- The Group of 77 joined a hard consensus on the draft resolution on ECOSOC review process, which stems from our conviction of the important work of ECOSOC, and its role in strengthening developing countries efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and achieving sustainable development, within its mandate stipulated in article 62 of the UN Charter which clearly identifies ECOSOC powers and functions.

3- The Group of 77 does not interpret the language in Pp2 and Op 2 (before the Annex) on the HLPF and ECOSOC review process in the 74th session and its subsequent cycles to be conducted jointly nor in conjunction. The review process of HLPF and ECOSOC remains separate. The review process of the HLPF and ECOSOC in the 74th session and its subsequent cycles should not lead to a merger nor combining the outcomes or two processes of HLPF and ECOSOC in one document or under one review process. The Group underlines its strong conviction that HLPF and ECOSOC are two distinct process in their legal, mandate, scope and composition according to the GA relevant resolutions.

4- The Group of 77 believes that Pp9 which contains reference to the ongoing "synergies, and coherence and reducing overlap where it is found to exist in the agenda of the General Assembly, ECOSOC and their subsidiary bodies" which is mandated through a separate GA resolution 71/323 goes beyond the mandate of 68/1. The reference to the "synergies and coherence" process should not be used, nor interpret to undermine or compromise the Group's position in the "synergies and coherence" process. GA resolution 71/323 and resolution 68/1 remains separate.

5- We regret the fact that Op8 does not reflect explicitly the entire meetings and forums on the means of implementation. We strongly believe that ECOSOC special annual meeting on international cooperation in tax matters, as a fundamental platform for intergovernmental collaboration on tax matter is one of the structural meetings of the ECOSOC activities according to the GA relevant resolutions.

6- The language in Operative paragraph 21 "on the possible ways to applying to other meetings and segments certain aspects of modalities of engagement of major groups and other stakeholders in the HLPF" is vague and ambiguous. The Group underlines that stakeholder participation should adhere to established parameters of their participation, notably the non-objection basis, respect of their terms of reference for their participation. The implementation of Op 21 by ECOSOC should be conducted in a transparent manner; and it should not divert or undermine relevant existing rules nor create a new mandate for stakeholder's participation.

7- The Group of 77 is of the view that operative paragraph 30 doesn't mandate the ECOSOC subsidiary bodies to eliminate or decide upon the need for the annual negotiated outcomes.

8- Finally, the Group of 77 requests the Explanation of Position statement to be part of the record of today's plenary session as an official document of the plenary session.

Thank you.