The first meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention established a new task force to explore the possibility of establishing stable and predictable financial arrangements for the Convention (for more details, please see Decision I/13  ENG FRE RUS).

At its first meeting (Geneva, 23 March 2004), the Task Force examined the form of possible options for establishing financial arrangements on the basis of a background paper. Four options were discussed, including possible application of a scale of assessment based on the United Nations scale. The Task Force also assessed the effectiveness of the existing financial arrangements established by the first Meeting of the Parties, based on a system of shares.

The second meeting of the Parties adopted decision II/6 on financial arrangements and asked the Working Group of the Parties to explore and develop as appropriate options for establishing stable and predictable financial arrangements based on the United Nations scale of assessments or other appropriate scales; and to prepare recommendations concerning the above matters with a view to their possible adoption at the third ordinary meeting of the Parties.

The Working Group of the Parties requested the Bureau to invite proposals for consideration by an extended Bureau at its 12th meeting, held in September 2006. Parties were invited to respond to questions circulated by the secretariat on financial arrangements. Responses to the questions are found in the table below.