Statement of the Group of 77 and China during the IAEA Informal Programme and Budget Committee Meeting, 1 June 2018, delivered by
H.E. Ambassador Omar Amer Youssef,
Permanent Representative of Egypt
The Agency’s Draft Budget Update for 2019
Mr. Chair,
1. The Group thanks the Secretariat for issuing the working paper on the Agency’s budget update for 2019 contained in document 2018/Note 43.
2. The Group appreciates that the Secretariat has taken into consideration the views expressed by the Group relating to paras 7, 10 and 11 of the Working Paper.
3. The Group regrets that the breakdown of crosscutting savings and efficiencies was not provided as previously requested. Regarding the information provided by the Secretariat that all crosscutting savings and efficiencies are not yet linked with the activities, and that these numbers are the targets given to the departments, the Group urges the Secretariat to keep Member States informed during the process of identifying such savings and efficiencies, and before implementing them, in order to meet the targets, with the view of ensuring that there is no negative impact on the programmatic activities.
4. The Group reiterates its position on the price adjustment as expressed in the last formal PBC meeting. In this regard, the Group notes that previous programme and budget documents, such as the one contained in GC(53)/5, present a breakdown of regular budget expenditures for each item of expenditure with detailed description of the factors that impact the price adjustment and the overall regular budget growth, including the different components of staff costs. The Group calls on the Secretariat to resume this practice for all future budget cycles and updates.
Mr. Chair,
5. The Group is ready to join consensus on this issue with the expectation that the Secretariat will officially fulfil the Group's requests as soon as possible and improve the process of future Programme and Budget Cycles with provision of full, clear and official information well in advance.
