UNITED NATIONS		E
	Economic and Social Council	Distr.GENERAL E/ECE/1384/Rev.1 7 February 2001 ORIGINAL:  ENGLISH

Fifty-sixth session

(8-11 May 2001)

PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION

To be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 8 May 2001

High level policy segment

2. Business enterprise and economic growth in the Central Asian and the Caucasian countries: creating a supportive and secure environment

3. Reactions to the Spring Seminar and to the Debate of the First Day of the Session

General Segment

4. ECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing: Briefing by the State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Federal Republic of Germany

5. Environment, energy and transport: Strengthening links within the ECE region

6. The Millennium Declaration: Challenges for Europe

7. ECE strategic directions

8. Matters arising from the work of the subsidiary bodies requiring decision by, or meriting the attention of, the Commission

9. Election of officers

10. Other business

11. Adoption of the report

In accordance with the accreditation procedures applicable to all meetings held at the Palais des Nations, delegates are requested to complete the attached registration form and transmit it, at the latest two weeks before the session, to the ECE secretariat (Fax No. +41 22 917 00 36 or E-mail to: [email protected]).

In Geneva, prior to the session, delegates are requested to present themselves at the Pass and Identification Unit of the UNOG Security and Safety Section, located at the Villa Les Feuillantines, 13 Avenue de la Paix (see attached map), in order to be issued with an identification badge. In case of difficulties, please contact the ECE secretariat (Annual Session of the Commission - Tel: +41 22 917 28 92 ; Spring Seminar - Tel +41 22 917 27 18).

For reasons of economy, delegates are requested to bring copies of the documents mentioned in the provisional agenda to the meeting. There will be no documentation available in the meeting room.

 

Time	Agenda item	Introduction	Explanatory Notes	Documentation
8 May a.m. a.m. and p.m. p.m.	Item 1 Adoption of the agenda Item 2 Business enterprise and economic growth in the Central Asian and the Caucasian countries: creating a supportive and secure environment Item 3: Reactions to the Spring Seminar and to the Debate of the First Day of the Session	Chairman of the Commission Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary Chairman of the Commission	The adoption of the agenda will be followed by opening remarks by the Chairman of the Commission and the Executive Secretary. The discussion under item 2 will draw upon the debate during the Spring Seminar on creating a supportive and secure environment for business enterprise and economic growth, focussing on the policy implications for institution building and structural changes in the Central Asian and Caucasian countries. In line with recommendations by the Group of Experts on the Programme of Work, the agenda foresees time for intergovernmental reactions to the Spring Seminar and to the debate during the first day of the Session.	E/ECE/1384/ Rev.1
9 May	No formal meetings will be held on 9 May.		An informal meeting, open to all ECE member countries, will be arranged to discuss ECE strategic directions with the participation of the Executive Secretary, the Bureau of the Commission, the Chairpersons of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies, and the Division Directors. Other informal meetings could be arranged for delegations wishing to discuss issues of common interest.
10 May a.m.	Item 4: ECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing: Briefing by the State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Federal Republic of Germany	Chairman
10 May a.m.	Item 5: Environment, energy and transport: strengthening links within the ECE region	Executive Secretary	Further developing intersectoral linkages is increasingly recognized as essential for achieving economic growth and environmental sustainability. Under this item, a Round Table discussion will focus on how a more integrated approach within ECE can foster interactions among the environment, energy and transport sectors at the national, subregional and regional levels.	E/ECE/1385
10 May p.m.	Item 6: The Millennium Declaration: Challenges for Europe	Executive Secretary	In the Millennium Declaration, Heads of State and Government pledged that they would spare no effort to achieve the objectives articulated in the Declaration, and committed themselves to reach certain targets within given time frames. Under this item, a Round Table discussion will focus on identifying the most relevant economic and social objectives for ECE member States, on the progress already made and further efforts to achieve these objectives. Follow-up mechanisms to monitor this progress will also be considered.	E/ECE/1386
11 May a.m.	Item 7: ECE strategic directions	Executive Secretary	Debate under this item will focus on issues identified/discussed during the informal meeting on strategic directions between the Executive Secretary, the Bureau of the Commission, the Chairpersons of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies, and the Division Directors, held on 9 May 2001.
11 May p.m.	Item 8: Matters arising from the work of the subsidiary bodies requiring decision by, or meriting the attention of, the Commission Item 9: Election of officers Item 10: Other business Item 11: Adoption of Report	Executive Secretary Chairman Rapporteur		Conference Room Paper Draft reports prepared during the Commission session

General Notes

1. The fifty-sixth session of the Commission (8-11 May 2001) will be preceded by a seminar on 7 May, on "Creating a supportive and secure environment for business enterprise and economic growth: institutional reform and governance". Debate under the session's agenda item 2 will draw upon the seminar's discussion.

2. There will be no formal meeting of the Commission on Wednesday, 9 May. An informal meeting to discuss ECE strategic directions will be arranged with the participation of the Executive Secretary, the Bureau of the Commission, the Chairpersons of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies, and the Division Directors. Other meetings will be arranged as necessary between member countries who wish to discuss issues of common interest.

3. In accordance with the Commission's Rules of Procedure, the documents referred to in the Provisional Agenda will, wherever possible, be transmitted to Governments in the Commission's three official languages (English, French, Russian) not less than forty-two days before the opening of the session, i.e. not later than 27 March 2001.

4. As part of the ongoing efforts of all concerned to revitalize the sessions of the Commission, and in keeping with the previous sessions of the Commission, the Bureau recommends that delegations, PSB Chairpersons and representatives from other organizations/initiatives should refrain from general statements and limit themselves to specific observations and proposals for action. Any delegation wishing to provide a text for distribution is requested to provide the secretariat, preferably in advance of the session, with sufficient copies (approximately 75).

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

Date:

Title of the Conference

Delegation/Participant of country, Organization or Agency)

Participant: Name Mr. Mrs. Ms. First name(s)

Participation Category

English French Russian

Official position (in own country): Passport No : Validity until:

Official telephone No: Telefax N : E-mail address:

Permanent official address:

Address in Geneva:

Accompanied by spouse Yes No

Family name (spouse) First Name (spouse)

1. The same document is reproduced in French and Russian under the symbol E/ECE/1384

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