Mr. Facilitator,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the G77 and China. Thank you for convening these informal consultations. We welcome the opportunity to continue discussing the review of the implementation of the Resolution 61/16 of the General Assembly on the strengthening of the ECOSOC.

2. Allow me now to share the views of the Group on the questions you suggested in your letter of the 21st of March.

I. Frequency of the meetings of the Development Cooperation Forum

3. Regarding your suggestion of exploring the possibility of increasing the frequency of the meetings of the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF), the Group supports the DCF as a unique forum for dialogue among development cooperation actors from the South and the North. In that sense, annualizing the DCF could enable it to better discharge its broad mandate, respond to new issues and engage Geneva-based agencies.

4. However, we would like to recall - as we did in our intervention during the first informal consultation - that this topic has to be discussed on a broader basis. Given the fact that the meetings could take place alternately in New York and Geneva, the G77 and China considers that despite the advantages of having annual meetings of this Forum, it is also important to take into account the difficulties and burden, in terms of human and financial resources, it would entail for the developing countries - especially the LDCs - to fully participate in its sessions.

5. Therefore, bearing in mind that there have been few DCF meetings, the Group would suggest that, for the moment, we could maintain the DCF frequency as it is now, and revisit this issue next year.

6. Taking into account the relevance of following up the DCF process, we believe in the value of exploring the possibility of having a negotiated outcome document, in order to make DCF more useful to developing countries.

II. Strengthening of the Spring Session of the ECOSOC with the Bretton Woods Institutions, UNCTAD, and the WTO

7. The achievement of the internationally agreed development goals including the MDGs requires coordination, coherence and collaboration not only within the UN system, narrowly defined, but also with the other multilateral institutions including the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), WTO and UNCTAD.

8. In that regard, the Group is generally pleased with the format of ECOSOC's Spring Session. However, we feel the need to further strengthen the level of participation and deepen the BWI, WTO and UNCTAD engagement, as well as increase the involvement of Ministers of Finance and other Ministries in its deliberations.

9. The Group considers that we can motivate all interested parties to be represented at an adequate level if we can reach a balance between the opening session and the thematic debates, having statements of Member States and major Groups in the opening segment.

10. Although we appreciate the improvements in the interest of the BWIs, we feel that the absence of the WTO in several thematic debates is problematic, given their relevance in the Finance for Development (FfD) process. We need and urge more representation at the intergovernmental level.

11. In order to improve the level of participation, maybe one option to be explored is the possibility of using videoconferencing in the Session. Another alternative could be to allocate funds for the Ministerial participation of developing Member States.

Mr. Facilitator,

12. Regarding the concrete actions that can be taken to improve the format of the meeting as well as the impact of its results, the G77 and China considers that it would be too soon to change the format of the Session.

13. In that regard, we would hesitate to reopen this aspect since this is connected with the follow-up of the FfD process. The Group considers that we can improve the meeting without changing, at this moment, its mandate. In that sense, we can work on improving its various organizational arrangements.

14. First, we could look at the possibility of having the BWI, WTO and UNCTAD speakers send us their presentations in advance so we can have more inputs for an effective discussion. Second, we could reflect on the selection of the panelists. Third, we could begin earlier the preparatory process in the bureau for the Session. Fourth, the meeting could also be oriented to listen to the BWI, WTO and UNCTAD on what they have done during that current year. Fifth, we should make sure that the speakers are focused on the topic of each specific thematic debate. Sixth, all the invited institutions should be sitting on the table on every thematic debate.

15. Besides, given the fact that the Session has no negotiated outcome and that there are no compromises made, the G77 and China would like to stress that the summary of the President of ECOSOC could be an opportunity to feed in the decision making process of BWI, WTO and UNCTAD and also in FfD process. In that regard, we suggest that we can explore the possibility that the President of ECOSOC attends the Spring Meeting in Washington and presents himself this summary, listing the issues discussed in New York.

III. Reformulate the agenda of the October Resumed Session of the ECOSOC

16. Regarding your suggestion of reformulating the agenda of the October Resumed Session to include the reports of the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions, the G77 and China can support this proposal. We believe that it is important to have more dialogue and create greater space to interact with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions.

17. In addition, the Group would like to see the ECOSOC having a clear, direct and strong guidance to its subsidiary bodies to implement measures for promoting coordination within their respective mandates and areas of competence. In that sense, the October Session could be also an opportunity - apart from the Substantive Session - to have a dialogue with the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to ensure that policy guidance from the Council is integrated into the programme of work and operational activities for development. It would help to ensure that the UN system delivers as one at the global, regional and country levels on the broad range of commitments made by the international community

IV. Moving the reports of the subsidiary organs from the General Segment of the Substantive Session to the third or fourth week of June.

Mr. Facilitator,

18. Most of the part of the agenda of the General Segment of the Substantive Session is used by the reports of the subsidiary organs. For that reason the Group can support the proposal of moving the reports of the subsidiary organs to the third or fourth week of June.

V. Interaction between ECOSOC and specialized agencies of United Nations

19. Regarding the improvement of the interaction between ECOSOC and the specialized agencies, the G77 and China would like to underline particularly the relevance of the Chief Executives Board (CEB). As it is the designated authority for promoting coherence within the UN system and wider, the CEB serves as the main instrument for executive heads to coordinate their actions and policies. The CEB brings together executive heads from various UN bodies (agencies, programmes, and funds), the WTO and Bretton Woods institutions.

20. Efforts by the UN system to improve its coordination, particularly through the CEB are welcomed, but we need to further strengthen this mechanism. In that sense, we want to stress the relevance of improving the transparency and accountability of the CEB. We also would like to ask for the full implementation of paragraph 4 c) of Resolution 64/289 on "System-wide coherence", regarding the mandate to the President of the ECOSOC "to continue to convene periodic briefings for Member States with the Secretariat following the biannual sessions of the CEB, taking into account the need to schedule the briefings within a time frame that permits the full utilization of such opportunities by Member States for an effective dialogue with the Board regarding its activities".

21. The Group also would like to suggest the possibility of explore the creation of a segment to revise the follow-up commitments and the fulfillment of the CEB mandate during the third or fourth week of June, together with the presentations of the reports of the subsidiary organs.

VI. Other Issues

Mr. Facilitator,

22. Finally, we would like to thank you for your efforts in leading this process, and also we would like to express that a more effective, efficient, coherent, coordinated and better-performing ECOSOC needs for a continuation in the discussion regarding the implementation of the resolution 61/16 in order to have a Council that serves as the central forum for the discussion of international economic, social, humanitarian and environmental issues, and plays a key role in fostering international cooperation for development and in setting priorities for action.

I thank you Mr. Facilitator.