Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC is the third most important body of the UN and main intergovernmental platform for sustainable development with its main focus on economic, social and environmental issues (i.e. the three dimensions of sustainable development). Established by the United Nations Charter in 1946, the Council has 54 members: 14 African countries; 11 from Asia and the Pacific; 6 from Eastern Europe; 10 from Latin America and the Caribbean and 13 from the WEOG (Western European and Other Group).
On 7 June 2024, in New York, Italy was elected as a member of the ECOSOC for the 2025-2027 three-year term, with 183 votes out of 190 voting countries (the best result to be achieved by a Western Group country in this electoral round). It will be the 11th term for Italy as Member State of ECOSOC since the Council was established in 1946.
As member of ECOSOC, Italy intends to continue its commitment, actively contributing to the efforts of the United Nations and to the work of the Council, in the economic, social and environmental fields, in solidarity and cooperation with developing countries and Africa especially. It will do so in synergy with the many Italian Non-Governmental Organizations credited by ECOSOC in light of their valuable and far-reaching endeavors aimed to bridge the gap between the UN and the civil society’s expectations and needs.
AMBASSADOR MASSARI ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF ECOSOC (2022-2023)
From July 2022 to July 2023 Ambassador Massari served as Vice President of the UN Economic and Social Council. His election marked the return of Italy to the Bureau after 23 years, with a prestigious election by acclamation to the body’s Vice Presidency. Its last stint was in 1999, when Ambassador Fulci held the Presidency.
Among Italy’s most pressing objectives of its Vice Presidency, was the one to build on the commitments made in the Ministerial Declaration on the status of implementation of Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals – the SDGs adopted on 18 July 2022 by ECOSOC. “Renewing global action for the 2030 Agenda is an urgent priority. We have identified the multidimensional challenges we must face, including the impact of conflicts, the pandemic and climate change on the SDGs. Food security is one of the most urgent interconnected crises to tackle due to the war in Ukraine, along with its impact on the global economy and energy supply,” the Ambassador went on to say. Among the other priority areas of work for Italy during its Vice Presidency will be the fight against Covid-19; strengthening global health; access to and distribution of vaccines; an inclusive and sustainable post-pandemic recovery; climate action; biodiversity; policies for gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment; education; supporting youth leadership; financing development and international cooperation and re-launching multilateralism.