3rd Drafting Session of the Outcome Document of the
3rd International Conference on Financing for Development

A plenary discussion at the ambassadorial level took place on Sunday morning, following the release of a new draft of the Addis Ababa Accord. Updating delegates, Co-Facilitator Amb. George Talbot said the work conducted overnight had made significant progress in negotiations on: the technology facilitation mechanism (TFM); an infrastructure forum; and follow-up and review. Tax cooperation and other matters remained outstanding, he said, and said there would be important implications if the work did not conclude on Sunday.

Following interventions from South Africa, for G-77/China, the EU, Benin, and the US, UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa urged delegates not to go to Addis Ababa with unfinished business for politicians because “they are the worst draftsmen.” UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said FfD3 was a test of multilateralism, and its outcome will “very seriously affect the way the world looks at the UN as a body to come up with solutions and formulas for international cooperation.”

Co-Facilitator Talbot suspended the open plenary at 12:43 pm and invited the principals of the negotiating teams to meet with the Co-Facilitators immediately following the meeting. Plenary reconvened at 9:45 pm, following informal coordination on tax matters and other issues throughout the day. Co-Facilitator Talbot said a number of critical issues remain to be resolved, and the meeting would reconvene at 12:00 pm on 22 June 2015 to determine the way forward.