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Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the UN’s principal organ for the discussion and coordination of international economic and social issues and for formulating policy recommendations for Member States and the UN system.

Under ECOSOC’s broad purview are over 70 percent of the UN system’s human and financial resources.

 

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Background:

ECOSOC election procedures follow the General Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. Election requires a two-thirds majority and the largest number of votes. Members hold staggered terms of three years, and membership can be renewed immediately after it expires on December 31. Due to membership being renewable immediately after each term expires, with no limits, some states effectively have been able to hold near-permanent membership on the Council.

Longest-Standing ECOSOC Members

Nation Year Joined Years on the Council
USA 1945 62
France 1946 61
Germany 1974 60
Russia 1947 60
UK 1947 60
China 1972 35
Canada 1981 26
Japan 1982 25

(Source: Global Policy Forum) With a total of 54 members, 18 seats are either renewed or newly elected each year according to geographical representation, as follows:

African States 14 seats 5 seats came open in 2007
Asian States 11 seats 4 seats came open in 2007
Eastern European States 6 seats 2 seats came open in 2007
Latin American and Caribbean States 10 seats 3 seats came open in 2007
Western European and Other States 13 seats 4 seats came open in 2007

Some Member States also serve on ECOSOC's array of commissions; they are elected by ECOSOC for three- or four-year terms.

Recent Developments:

The most recent election of 18 new members to the UN Economic and Social Council was completed on 8 November 2006. Elected to fill the above-listed open seats:

§ African States: Algeria, Cape Verde, Malawi, Somalia, Sudan

§ Asian States: Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Philippines

§ Eastern Europe: Belarus and Romania

§ Latin America: Barbados, Bolivia, and El Salvador

§ Western European and Other States: Canada, Luxembourg,

Netherlands, United States of America

These eighteen new members joined ECOSOC on 1 January 2007 to replace the states whose terms expire at the end of 2006. Portugal, Greece, and New Zealand also were elected. They replace for Spain, Turkey, and Australia, respectively, whose terms were not yet complete.[1]

A total of 21 new or renewed states will join ECOSOC on 1 January 2007. At least two of these were long-standing and frequent members of ECOSOC – Canada has held a seat since 1981, except for only two years (2002-2003), and the United States has held a seat continually since 1946.

Coming Up:

The next elections likely will take place in September 2007. Nineteen seats will be open, as the following states’ terms on the Council come to an end in December 2007[2]:Albania, Brazil, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Guinea, Iceland, India, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom

Recommended Reading:·

“GA Adopts Resolution to Strengthen ECOSOC,” ReformtheUN.org: Latest Development Issue #157 (World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy, 29 November 2006) (http://www.reformtheun.org/index.php/eupdate/2683)·

“The Reform of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): A Never-Ending Story?” By Jens Martens (World Economy & Development and Global Policy Forum, November 14, 2006) (http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/un/reform/2006/1114ecosocmartens.htm)·

Compilation of documents and statements on ECOSOC reform from the lead-up period to the UN World Summit in 2005 (http://www.reformtheun.org/index.php/issues/92?theme=alt3)·

“Decisionmaking in the Economic and Social Council” By Walter R. Sharp, International Organization, Vol. 22, No. 4. (Autumn, 1968), pp. 881-901·

“The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations: An Issues Paper” By Gert Rosenthal, Dialogue on Globalization, Occasional Papers No. 15. February 2005. (docs are on Jess’ server)

 

Related UNElections Monitors:

 

[1] We are seeking information on the reasons that Spain, Turkey, and Australia terminated their tenures early. Please contact info@UNelections.org.

[2] We are seeking information on why the number of open seats is 19 this year, rather than 18. Please contact info@UNelections.org.