Geneva, 5 May
1999
ECE/GEN/99/8
ECONOMIC
COMMISSION FOR EUROPE DISCUSSES
COOPERATION BETWEEN PAN-EUROPEAN BODIES
This afternoon, the Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE) discussed issues related to the work
of the Group of Experts on the Programme of Work, exchanged views
upon cross-sectoral concerns including inter-sectoral issues,
with the participation of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies (PSBs),
and discussed the follow-up to the ECOSOC Resolution related to
the regional commissions, as well as cooperation with European
institutions and Pan-European organizations and sub-regional
organizations.
The Commission adopted
the Recommendations of the Group of Experts on the
Programme of Work;
The Commission invited
the Committee on Environmental Policy to review all
activities related to sustainable development and make
suggestions to each PSB and to the Commission on a more
systematic approach at the ECE level;
The Commission endorsed
the convening of an expert meeting at the
intergovernmental level, in response to the request by
the General Assembly, which would review economic issues,
problems and policies relating to the situation of women
in ECE countries, in order to provide a regional
assessment for the 2000 review of the implementation
of the Beijing Platform for Action.
When the Commission reconvenes
at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 6 May, it will continue its discussion on
issues related to the implementation of the reform and will also
start consideration of its annual report.
Issues related to the work
of the Group of Experts on the Programme of Work
The Chairman of the Group of
Experts on the Programme of Work, C. Moore, introduced paper
E/ECE/1372, saying that the purpose of the exercise was to incite
PSBs to work out how to use the allocated funding to cover the
diverse areas of interest. It was up to the PSBs to determine the
distribution of resources, not up to the group of experts. After
a throughout discussion, the Commission endorsed the five
recommendations of the Working Group. These recommendations are:
- All PSB activities
using ECE regular budget resources should be included
in the prioritization exercise;
- The three-tier
system of prioritization should be maintained, but
PSBs which account for less than 5% of total ECE
resources (Human Settlements, Timber and Sustainable
Energy) may, if necessary, prioritize their
activities on a two-tier basis;
- A proforma should
be produced for individual PSBs to complete during
the prioritization exercise;
- An explanatory
note should be produced to accompany the new
proforma; and
- The Chairman or a
representative of the Group of Experts on the
Programme of Work should attend the annual meetings
between the Bureau of the Commission and the PSB
Bureaux. Other informal meetings between the PSBs and
the Group of Experts could be arranged as necessary.
Exchange of views on
cross-sectoral concerns including intersectoral linkages
Yves Berthelot, Executive
Secretary of the ECE, introduced document E/ECE/1369, saying
that the programme of action had mentioned two cross-sectoral
topics: sustainable development and gender main streaming. The
first issue gave raise to a tight cooperation in the context of
transport and environment and energy and environment. In these
two areas progress had been made in recent years. In fact,
environment was becoming one of the integrating factors in the
Commission=s work. The ECE could review all its
environmental activities to try and bring in as much
complementarity as possible, and avoid duplication of work.
Regarding equality among
genders, there had been discussions at the expert level. A
preparatory meeting had been called including the European
communities. Many issues would be studied at the meeting.
Recommendations from the Group of Experts on this matter should
be adopted by the Commission.
The Representative of the Committee
on Environmental Policy said that over the last few years,
sectoral integration had become a more important feature in all
programmes of work. Recommendations and reviews had been made and
applied in line with the proposed recommendations to have a clear
approach to work. The possibility of improving and economising
resources by using horizontal conventions were being examined.
There was an obvious and significant trend of attempting to work
closely with other sectors.
The Representative of the Timber
Committee said that dealing with a natural resource incited a
lot of cooperation and interest with other sectors. Environmental
cooperation was a prime area for this. Energy conservation was
another sector with which there was a close link. Cross sectoral
activities were already implemented, and there would be more in
the future. He further stressed that the Committee was attempting
to address gender issues in its work plan, and had been so for a
while. A series of discussion papers had been undertaken, and
seminars had been planned on the topic of women and forestry.
The Chairman of the Conference
of European Statisticians said that sustainable development
was related to many issues, and there was a need for common
concepts and definitions that would allow a proper crosscutting
dialogue. There were many organizations involved, and it was
important to coordinate what was done in the different fora.
Gender statistics were important, and should provide an important
contribution to the activity.
The Chairman of the Committee
on Human Settlements said that the ECE region was urbanised
to a high level, and this was a continuing process, representing
considerable assets. The quality of settlements was equal to the
quality of life. Sustainable development was a leitmotif of the
Committee on Human Settlements. Many issues came together on this
issue. Work on urban renewal was based on practical examples,
which should help, for example, countries in transition. The
Committee involved the private sector in its work. The Committee
could help in Kosovo, since there would be a need for
re-settlement and reconstruction.
In relation to sustainable
development, recognizing it as a subject that cut across all
areas of activity of ECE, the Commission invited the Committee on
Environmental Policy to review all activities related to
sustainable development and make suggestions to each PSB and to
the Commission on a more systematic approach at the ECE level.
In the area of gender
mainstreaming, the Commission expressed its desire to see further
efforts made in this regard. Also in relation to gender issues,
the Commission endorsed the convening of an expert meeting at the
intergovernmental level, in response to the request by the
General Assembly, which would review economic issues, problems
and policies relating to the situation of women in ECE countries,
in order to provide a regional assessment for the 2000 review of
the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
The Commission also commended
recent developments in intersectoral cooperation, in particular
in the fields of transport and environment, as well as
environment and health, and urged that further advances be made
in this direction.
Follow-up of the ECOSOC
Resolution relating to the regional commissions
The Executive Secretary
introduced the issue, which was treated in document E/ECE/1370.
The document had no issues calling for resolution. However,
requests for cooperation were becoming more and more pressing.
The Executive Committee on Economic and Social Matters was
developing contributions to a new Washington Convention. The
Executive Committee had already done a large amount of work on
this issue and others. The ECE contributed to this, as the
seminar on Monday illustrated.
In March, there had been a
meeting between agencies active in the European region. This
should be reconvened to enhance harmony between the different
activities undertaken by the UN Organizations. The ECE was
participating in the meetings of the UN Senior Management Group,
and would be in the Administrative Coordination Committee. The
ECE was making efforts to enhance cooperation and coordination.
During the discussions,
representatives agreed with the view of the Secretary-General
that regional organizations were the outposts of the UN. They
recognised that the series of high level regional meetings were
an important step in establishing the ECE as the regional arm of
the UN. It should become more responsive to the needs of regions
and sub-regions.
The Commission was invited to
continue its efforts to enhance cooperation and dialogue along
the lines outlined in the report by participating in management
coordination mechanisms, including United Nations system regional
Inter-Agency Meetings and the ACC, and by cooperating with United
Nations entities, programmes and funds. The secretariat was also
encouraged to keep ECE member States informed of developments.
Cooperation with European
institutions and Pan-European organizations and sub-regional
organizations
The Executive Secretary introduced the discussion, which was based on document
E/ECE/1379, which reported on the cooperation with various
institutions and organizations. The objectives pursued by the
Commission and the secretariat with these organizations were to
create synergy and to use the instruments that were developed in
one institution in the context of another to avoid duplication of
work. This had been achieved in many cases. The ECE had made many
contributions to other organizations, and had organized
activities jointly with them. Pan-European relationships were
good, but could always be improved.
However, there was a need for
sharper awareness and a more publicly recognised awareness that
the three pan-European organizations had an important role to
play in maintaining European cohesion, as well as a need to work
together, to ensure that European peoples knew that there was a
will for unity.
In the context of sub-regional
bodies, there was a duty to provide them with the decisions,
standards, norms and conventions that had been adopted by the
Commission, since these were some times poorly implemented.
Cooperation ran along these lines. Any work to achieve
coordination in cooperation took time, but were worth it.
For further information,
please contact:
Information Unit
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations, Room 356
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (22) 917 44 44
Fax: +41 (22) 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org