ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE CONCLUDES 50TH ANNIVERSARY SESSION
24 April 1997
Decisions Taken on Revised Plan of Action, EDIFACT Programme,
Framework Classification System for Coal Reserves
The Economic Commission for Europe adjourned this morning the annual
session marking its 50th year, having adopted over four days of meetings a reform
package designed to focus its work on topics important for its 55 member States
as a new century approaches. Also ratified was a declaration on strengthening
cooperation to promote economic prosperity throughout the region.
Before closing this morning, the Commission approved decisions endorsing
its new Declaration on the Strengthening of Economic Cooperation in Europe and
Plan of Action; advocating use of the UN/EDIFACT Standard for facilitation of
international trade procedures; and approving a new "United Nations Framework
Classification for Reserves/Resources" recommended by the ECE's Working Party
on Coal and by its Committee on Energy. It also adopted its report for the session.
In concluding remarks, Chairman Peter Naray of Hungary said the necessity
for continued economic cooperation in Europe, and the role to be played in it by
the Commission, had been recognized by all the countries of Europe, and he hoped
that the Commission, on the basis of the reforms adopted, would have a second
jubilee session in another 50 years.
The Commission, along with enacting reforms, had discussed over the course
of the week diversification of activities designed to assist countries in transition
to market economies; cooperation and coordination of activities with other
organizations; the work of the Commission's subsidiary bodies; and -- in the form
of panel discussions -- the subjects of "building cohesion in Europe" and "forging
partnerships between Governments, enterprises, and non-governmental
organizations".