ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)
110. The UN Charter gives ECOSOC a range of important
functions that involve co-ordination, policy review and policy
dialogue. It ought, according to "In Larger Freedom"
be a "forger of consensus",[130]
but it has so far failed to achieve this aim. Mr Sam Daws noted
that as it has expanded from 18 to 27 to 54 members it has seen
a corresponding reduction in its prestige.[131]
The Secretary-General did not attempt to provide reasons for the
failures of ECOSOC, but rather addressed those areas in which
more work could be done. Its primary task, under his proposed
reforms, would be to monitor the implementation of internationally
agreed development goals (particularly the MDGs); but it would
more generally serve as a high-level development co-operation
forum. It would also address issues relating to crisis management
and, in conjunction with the proposed Peacebuilding Commission,
monitor and deal with the economic and social dimensions of conflicts.[132]
111. These proposals have been criticised by
many. The Council would be upgraded in terms of its development
work, but it would continue to have no enforcement powers, and
there are fears that focusing on the Council's development work
will marginalise its role in other important economic, environmental
and social issues.
112. The United Kingdom Government's position
on reform of ECOSOC is inconclusive. The Minister for Europe stated
that: "we do believe that as a charter body of the United
Nations ECOSOC needs to become a more effective multilateral international
institution that meets the kinds of challenges that such an organisation
will face and, given the nature of its remit in terms of economic,
social, environmental, humanitarian and human rights fields, of
course that would involve effective working with other international
financial institutions but there is more work that needs to be
done on that specific matter."[133]
Similarly, the EU supports reform, but does not specify what form
it should take.
113. The Government should make available
to Parliament, following the Millennium Review Summit, its analysis
of how successful any agreed reforms of ECOSOC are likely to be,
and what other reforms might be required in order to render ECOSOC
an effective multilateral institution.
115 
