Distr.
inf3add1 xx0300/...
UNEP/SBC/BUREAU/6/4/3
Page 1
GENERAL
UNEP/SBC/BUREAU/6/4/4
7 September 2004
ENGLISH ONLY
1
UNEP/SBC/BUREAU/6/4/3
Page 1
FOURTH MEETING OF THE EXPANDED BUREAU
OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE
OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL CONVENTION
Geneva, 27-28 September 2004
Provisional Agenda Item 5
COP7 – ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Note by the Secretariat
- INTRODUCTION
1.At its third session in April 2004, the Open-ended Working Group endorsed the proposal of the Expanded Bureau that the theme of COP7 should be “Partnership for meeting the global waste challenge”. Subsequently, the President with the support of the Members of the Bureau requested the Secretariat to prepare the elements of a paper reflecting the theme of COP7; these elements should form the basis of a paper that the President of the Expanded Bureau will present to COP7 (see document UNEP/SBC/BUREAU/6/4/3).
2.The Open-ended Working Group at its third session also endorsed the resource mobilization strategy for the implementation of the Basel Convention, prepared by the Secretariat under the direction of the Expanded Bureau (see document UNEP/CHW/OEWG3/INF/3/Add.1).
3.The theme of COP7 together with the issues of resource mobilization will be the focus of the high-level segment of the Conference which ministers and high-level officials are invited to attend. As recommended by the Expanded Bureau and supported by the Open-ended Working Group, the high-level segment should promote interactive discussions and exchange of views upon which the Conference of the Parties could make a decision or provide guidance.
- IMPLEMENTATION
4.It is proposed that on Thursday, 28 October 2004, the high-level segment of the Conference of the Parties could take the format of an exchange of views and interactive discussion among the various stakeholders attending the Conference. The debate in plenary would be preceded and introduced by presentations made by experts. These presentations would take 15 to 20 minutes and focus on specific areas highlighted in the Note from the President.
5.The high-level sessions could benefit from the presence of Ministers and other governmental representatives, members of the business community, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as parliamentarians attending the Conference. The summary of the outcome of the discussion, taking place during the high-level sessions, could form the basis for the Conference to take decisions or provide guidance.
6.The high-level sessions could provide impetus to address issues that are becoming increasingly complex and constantly evolving. It is in the spirit of paragraph 7 of Article 15 requiring the Conference of the Parties to undertake periodic evaluation of its effectiveness. In this context, it should be noted that hazardous waste minimization, integrated waste management, life-cycle approach to toxic chemicals and hazardous waste management as well as regional approach are issues that have arisen as part of meeting the goals of environmentally sound management.
- PROPOSED ACTION
7.The Expanded Bureau may wish to consider the proposed format for the organization of the high-level segment of the 7th meeting of the Conference of the Parties and to provide further guidance to the Secretariat on this matter.
-.-.-.-.-
1