UNECE Monthly
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
CALENDAR OF MEETINGS*
October 2014
Dates and
venue
30 Sep-3(am)
Title
Environmental Performance Review
Expert Group
Focal point: Antoine Nunes
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2351
E-mail: antoine.nunes [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
VIII
Comments
The Expert Group will consider the draft reports of
the third Environmental Performance Reviews (EPR)
of Montenegro and Serbia. It will discuss draft
conclusions and recommendations with national
officials and experts.
The revised recommendations to the Montenegrin
and Serbian governments will be then submitted to
the Committee on Environmental Policy for adoption.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=33396
30(pm) Sep3(am)
Working Party on General Safety
Provisions (GRSG)
Focal point: Romain Hubert
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2402
E-mail: romain.hubert [at] unece.org
VII
As a subsidiary body of the World Forum for
Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), the
Working Party on General Safety Provisions (GRSG)
will resume, during its 107th session, the
consideration of a range of items proposed to
improve regulatory provisions concerning the safety
of buses and coaches, particularly with regard to
trolleybuses and automatic fire suppression systems.
GRSG is expected to consider the need for adaptation
to the technical progress of existing technical
provisions for vehicles on the prevention of fire risks,
burning behaviour, safety glazing, devices for
indirect vision, rear underrun protection, international
whole vehicle type approval, odometer equipment,
vehicle alarm and accident emergency call systems.
GRSG will also consider the follow-up on
amendments to UN Regulation No. 67 on equipment
for vehicles using liquefied petroleum gases (LPG)
and UN Regulation No. 110 on Compressed or
Liquid Natural Gas (CNG or LNG).
Website: select GRSG in:
www.unece.org/index.php?id=34841
3(am)
*
Executive Committee (EXCOM)
Focal point: Parisudhi Kalampasut
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1045
E-mail: [email protected]
Not an official record; for information only.
IX
Website: www.unece.org/unece-main/aboutunece/executive-committee-excom/agenda.html
Unless otherwise specified, meetings are held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
2
Dates and
venue
6-7
Budapest
Title
13th Meeting of the Joint Expert Group of
the Water and Industrial Accidents
Convention
Focal point: Claudia Kamke
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1211
E-mail: claudia.kamke [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
__
Comments
The 13th Meeting of the Joint Expert Group (JEG) on
Water and Industrial Accidents will review and
discuss the next steps towards the finalization of the
draft checklist/methodology for contingency planning
for transboundary waters, with the aim to submit the
final checklist/methodology to the Eighth Meeting of
the Conference of the Parties (Geneva, 3-5 December
2014).
JEG is also expected to discuss future activities,
including its possible involvement for testing the
draft checklist/methodology.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35914
7
Informal Negotiating Session on the
Charter on Sustainable Housing
Focal point: Gulnara Roll
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2257
E-mail: gulnara.roll [at] unece.org
XII
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36178
7-8
Ashgabat
National seminar on the Protocol on Water
and Health under the European Union
Water Initiative (EUWI) National Policy
Dialogue in Turkmenistan
Focal point: Nataliya Nikiforova
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1927
E-mail: nataliya.nikiforova [at] unece.org
––
The workshop will familiarize relevant authorities
with the ways in which Turkmenistan could benefit
from applying the Protocol on Water and Health. It
will assist in building capacities in the following
areas related to the implementation of the Protocol:
(a)
regulatory, institutional and technical aspects,
in particular in relation to the cooperation of the
water, health and environment sectors;
(b) the process of development and adoption of
targets under the Protocol, as well as on the
implementation of measures to achieve such
targets; and
(c)
the process of acceding to the Protocol,
including relevant obligations and
requirements.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/water/npd/countrydialogues/tm/
ns-on-protocol/oct14.html
7-10
Working Party on the Transport of
Perishable Foodstuffs (WP.11)
Focal point: Christopher Smith
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 3298
E-mail: christopher.smith [at] unece.org
IX
At its 70th session, the WP.11 will examine a number
of proposed amendments to the Agreement on the
International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and
on the Special Equipment to be Used for such
Carriage (ATP) aimed at keeping it in line with new
technological developments in the field of
refrigerated transport and at ensuring the highest
standards of food safety. These include proposals
relating to equipment that can be used for both
cooling and heating cargoes, the validity of
certificates issued to vehicles manufactured for
transfer to another country, and marking for multitemperature equipment.
Website:
www.unece.org/trans/main/wp11/wp112014.htm
3
Dates and
venue
Title
Conf.
Room
No.
Comments
Border c rossing fac ilitation meetings
7-10
7&10
Working Party on Customs Questions
Affecting Transport (WP.30)
Focal point: Miodrag Pesut
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 4136
E-mail: [email protected]
VII
The Working Party will review the status and
implementation of United Nations Conventions in the
field of border crossing facilitation, which are
administered by the Working Party.
In particular, WP.30 will address the progress in the
current revision of the TIR Convention as well as a
large number of issues relating to the application of
the TIR Customs transit procedure, including the
measures undertaken by the Customs authorities of
the Russian Federation.
Website: http://border.unece.org
8
Administrative Committee for the TIR
Convention
Focal point: Miodrag Pesut
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 4136
E-mail: [email protected]
VII
The TIR Administrative Committee, the highest
administrative organ representing all 68 Contracting
Parties to the TIR Convention, is convened, at least,
twice a year and is serviced by the UNECE
secretariat.
At its forthcoming session, the Committee will
review the activities and administration of its
executive organ, the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB),
and will consider and possibly adopt various
amendment proposals, comments and best practices
to the text of the TIR Convention, 1975.
Website: www.unece.org/trans/bcf/ac2/ac2agenda.html
9(pm)
Administrative Committee for the
Harmonization Convention
Focal point: Serguei Kouzmine
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2771
E-mail: [email protected]
VII
The Administrative Committee, the highest
administrative organ representing all 57 Contracting
Parties to the Harmonization Convention, is
convened, at least, once every five years and is
serviced by the UNECE secretariat.
At its forthcoming session, the Committee will
discuss amendment proposals to the Convention as
well as, in particular, the implementation of
Annexes 8 and 9 and best practices to the text of the
Harmonization Convention, 1982.
Website: www.unece.org/trans/bcf/ac3/ac3agenda.html
8-9
75th session of the Committee on Housing
and Land Management
Focal point: Gulnara Roll
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 22 57
E-mail: gulnara.roll [at] unece.org
XII
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35435
9-10
Ashgabat
National seminar on the Convention on the
Transboundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents under the European Union
Water Initiative (EUWI) National Policy
Dialogue in Turkmenistan
Focal point: Nikolay Savov
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1980
E-mail: nikolay.savov [at] unece.org
__
The workshop will familiarize national stakeholders
with the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of
Industrial Accidents and its links to transboundary
waters.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/water/npd/countrydialogues/tm/
ns-on-ia-and-water/oct14.html
4
Dates and
venue
13
Title
Task Force on Water and Climate
Focal point: Sonja Koeppel
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1218
E-mail: sonja.koeppel [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
XII
Comments
The seventh meeting of the Task Force on Water and
Climate will review the progress and discuss further
implementation of the activities on water and climate
under the programme of work for 2013–2015 of the
Water Convention. Possible future activities for the
period beyond 2015 will also be considered.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/water/7th_meeting_task_force_w
ater_climate_2014.html
13-14
Yerevan
Workshop "Strengthening National
Capacities for Urban Planning, Housing
and Disaster Risk Reduction"
Focal point: Gulnara Roll
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2257
E-mail: gulnara.roll [at] unece.org
__
This workshop in Armenia is part of a larger project,
which is implemented from 2014 until 2017, and will
support sustainable housing in four selected countries
with economies in transition (Armenia, Republic of
Moldova, Serbia and Tajikistan) by assisting their
national governments in the formulation and
implementation of relevant policies and by
developing National Action Plans for Sustainable
Housing and Urban Development.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36436
13-15(am)
14
14
Astana
14-15
Specialized Section on Standardization of
Seed Potatoes
Focal point: Serguei Malanitchev
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 4146
E-mail: serguei.malanitchev [at] unece.org
Workshop on Organizational Frameworks
and Evaluation
Focal point: Tetyana Kolomiyets
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 4150
E-mail: tetyana.kolomiyets [at] unece.org
Second national working group meeting
under the European Union Water Initiative
(EUWI) National Policy Dialogue in
Kazakhstan
Focal point: Peep Mardiste
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3448
E-mail: peep.mardiste [at] unece.org
Fifth Workshop on Adaptation to Climate
Change in Transboundary Basins
Focal point: Sonja Koeppel
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1218
E-mail: sonja.koeppel [at] unece.org
VIII
The Specialized Section will review the UNECE
Standard for Seed Potatoes, as well as the guides to
seed potato field inspection and tuber inspection.
Website:
www.unece.org/trade/agr/meetings/ge.06/2014-insession.html
S4
Website: www.unece.org/stats/stats_h.html
__
The working group meeting will give feedback on
activities conducted in 2014 and discuss the workplan
for 2015.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/water/npd/countrydialogues/kz/2
wg/oct14.html
XII
The workshop will bring together professionals from
all over the world working on adaptation to climate
variability and change, with a special, but nonexclusive focus on transboundary basins.
The workshop will provide an opportunity to:
(a)
share experience on the latest methodologies,
approaches, lessons learned and tools for
addressing and anticipating climate impacts in
transboundary basins;
(b)
identify, collect and analyse good practices and
lessons learned on adaptation to climate change,
with a particular focus on transboundary basins;
(c)
present and discuss the progress of the global
network of basins working on climate change
adaptation under the UNECE Water
Convention, as well as other similar initiatives
by partners; and
5
Dates and
venue
Title
Conf.
Room
No.
Comments
(d) provide input to debates on water and climate
as well as water and disasters, for example
under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the United
Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/water/tranboundary_adaptation_
workshop_2014.html
15-17
Workshop on Human Resources
Management and Training: Modernising
statistics – how to get there?
Focal point: Tetyana Kolomiyets
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 4150
E-mail: tetyana.kolomiyets [at] unece.org
Team of Specialists on Innovation and
Competitiveness Policies
Focal point:
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1269
E-mail: ralph.heinrich [at] unece.org
16-17
V
Website: www.unece.org/stats/documents/2014.hrmt.html
XII
The 7th session of the Team of Specialists on
Innovation and Competitiveness Policies will develop
good practices and policy recommendations on smart
specialization strategies and will plan the Team’s
work in the remainder of 2014 and in 2015.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35927
17
Vienna
Working Party on Land Administration
workshop: Real Estate Infrastructure: Fit
for Use?
Focal point: Amie Figueiredo
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2625
E-mail: amie.figueiredo [at] unece.org
__
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36363
20-22
Working Party on Lighting and LightSignalling (GRE)
Focal point: Konstantin Glukhenkiy
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1531
E-mail: konstantin.glukhenkiy [at] unece.org
V
As a subsidiary body of the World Forum for
Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)
focusing on lighting of wheeled vehicles and their
safety, GRE will consider a range of items proposed
to improve regulatory provisions.
Website: click on GRE in
www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=34836
Susta inab le Energ y We ek 1
20-23
20
Cleaner Electricity Production Workshop
and Stakeholder Meeting
Focal point: Viktor Badaker
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2443
E-mail: viktor.badaker [at] unece.org
VIII
This workshop/stakeholder meeting is organized in
response to requests by a number of member States to
discuss recent developments in the fields of Carbon
Capture and Storage (CCS) and the valuation of
efficiency enhancing measures for fossil fuel-fired
power plants. The primary aim of the workshop is to
present some practical tools that could be used to
increase the capacity of member States to tackle the
challenges of increasing conversion efficiency while
decreasing emissions from their electricity sectors.
The workshop will be held the day before the tenth
session of the Group of Experts on Cleaner
Electricity Production from Fossil Fuels. The
findings of the workshop will be reported to the
Group of Experts, with the aim to make the Group's
regulatory and policy dialogue more concrete and
substantive.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36211
6
Dates and
venue
21
Title
Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity
Production from Fossil Fuels
Focal point: Viktor Badaker
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2443
E-mail: viktor.badaker [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
VIII
Comments
The Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity
Production from Fossil Fuels will consider the key
deliverables of its work plan for 2014–2015, in
particular: draft survey of Carbon Capture and
Storage (CCS) covering the landscape, recent
developments, and principal actors; recommendations
to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change on the use of carbon capture and
storage in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and a
baseline analysis of the efficiency of fossil fuel-fired
power plants in the ECE region.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35130
22
Joint meeting of UNECE and the Coal
Subcommittee of the Global Methane
Initiative
Focal point: Branko Milicevic
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3158
E-mail: branko.milicevic [at] unece.org
VIII
The Global Methane Initiative is a voluntary,
multilateral partnership that aims to reduce global
methane emissions and to advance the abatement,
recovery and use of methane as a valuable clean
energy source. The Global Methane Initiative
achieves this by creating an international network of
partner governments, private sector members,
development banks, universities and nongovernmental organizations in order to build
capacity, develop strategies and markets, and remove
barriers to project development for methane
reduction in Partner Countries. The Global Methane
Initiative is one of the UNECE Group of Experts on
Coal Mine Methane key stakeholders. The Group of
Experts on Coal Mine Methane will discuss any
possible implications for its work on
recommendations of the twentieth session of the
Global Methane Initiative Coal Subcommittee.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36249
23
Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane
Focal point: Branko Milicevic
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3158
E-mail: branko.milicevic [at] unece.org
XI
The Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane will
consider the key deliverables of its work plan for
2014–2015, in particular:
 Best Practice Guidance on Effective Methane
Drainage and Use in Coal Mines in Spanish,
Mongolian and other languages;
 Recommendations on a new content for the Best
Practice Guidance;
 Case studies on the implementation of best
practices in methane management;
 Memorandum of Understanding on International
Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane; and
 Report on coal mine methane management,
inventories and standards.
Website: http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=35132
7
Dates and
venue
21-22
Title
International conference on Public–Private
Partnerships in the water and sanitation
sector – best practices and lessons learnt:
an exchange of experiences between
Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East
and North Africa
Focal point: Katia Adamo
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1834
E-mail: katia.adamo [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
XVIII
Comments
The international conference is organized by the
UNECE International Centre of Excellence on
Public-Private Partnerships (ICoE), the World Bank
and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.
The aim of the conference is to exchange best
practices and lessons learnt through a showcase of
experiences in water and sanitation PPPs in Europe,
Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa.
The conference will be opened by a high-level panel
on the Sustainable Development Goal on water and
the prospective role of PPPs.
At the conference the ICoE will also present the
proposal to establish, under its auspices, an
international PPP centre on water and sanitation.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=36057
21-22
Bureau of the Conference of European
Statisticians
Focal point: Tiina Luige
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1097
E-mail: tiina.luige [at] unece.org
XV
The regular meeting of the CES Bureau will make an
in-depth review of demographic projections, and
measuring extreme events and disasters. The Bureau
will discuss the CES work programme and decide on
further work in areas of ageing-related statistics,
time-use surveys, social protection,
entrepreneurship, climate change related statistics,
environmental indicators and leading composite and
sentiment indicators. The Bureau is expected to
endorse the final report on gender equality indicators.
Website:
www.unece.org/stats/documents/2014.10.bureau.html
21-23
23-24
Workshop on forest reporting in the
UNECE region
Focal point: Roman Michalak
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2879
E-mail: roman.michalak [at] unece.org
Group of Experts on Safety at Level
Crossings
Focal point: Rebecca Huang
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1286
E-mail: rebecca.huang [at] unece.org
VII
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35144
VIII
At its third session, the Group of Experts will
continue to discuss the implementation of its
programme of work related to level crossings and
safety at level crossings. This includes discussing the
findings of a multi-faceted survey on economics,
statistics, best/good practices, legislation, human
factors, technology and enforcement.
Website:
www.unece.org/trans/roadsafe/eg_level_crossings_0
3.html
27
Group of Experts on the European
Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews
of Vehicles Engaged in International Road
Transport (AETR)
Focal point: Robert Nowak
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1267
E-mail: robert.nowak [at] unece.org
V
Experts will continue discussing proposals for
amending AETR Article 22bis; third party rights and
obligations under the AETR Agreement; and will
exchange information about the issuance of digital
tachograph cards.
As this is the last scheduled session, experts will also
consider adopting the final report of its deliberations
for the 2012-2014 period.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=34887
8
Dates and
venue
27-31
New Delhi
Title
24th UN/CEFACT Forum
Focal point: Tauno Kangur
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1474
E-mail: tauno.kangur [at] unece.org
Conf.
Room
No.
__
Comments
The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and
E-business (UN/CEFACT) organizes the 24th session
of the UN/CEFACT Forum in New Delhi, lndia from
27 to 31 October 2014.
Priorities at the Forum are:

Advancing current projects and domain activities

Ongoing maintenance tasks (such as
UN/EDIFACT Data Maintenance Requests)

Formulating and approving a series of new
projects to be conducted within the framework of
the approved programme of work

Continuing liaison and cooperation activities
with external organizations (governmental as
well as industry and standards consortia)

Advancing UN/CEFACT’s current and
forthcoming technical framework
UN/CEFACT supports activities dedicated to
improving the ability of business, trade and
administrative organizations, from developed,
developing and transition economies, to exchange
products and relevant services effectively. Its
principal focus is on facilitating national and
international transactions, through the simplification
and harmonization of processes, procedures and
information flows, and so contributing to the growth
of global commerce.
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=35433
28-29
Working Party on Road Transport
Focal point: Robert Nowak
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 12 67
E-mail: robert.nowak [at] unece.org
V
Delegates will discuss issues related to the European
Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of
Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport
(AETR), European Agreement on Main International
Traffic Arteries (AGR), Trans-European North-South
Motorway (TEM) Project, Convention on the
Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by
Road (CMR), International Motor Insurance System
(Green Card) as well as attempt to finalize a proposal
for a global multilateral agreement on the
international regular transport of passengers by coach
and bus (OmniBUS).
Website: www.unece.org/index.php?id=33989
9
Dates and
venue
28-31
Title
Committee on Environmental Policy
Focal points: Zaal Lomtadze /
Angela Sochirca
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2388 / 2064
E-mail: [email protected]
Conf.
Room
No.
VII
Comments
The 20th session of the Committee on Environmental
Policy (CEP) will work on preparing the eighth
Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference,
including deciding on the two themes for the
Conference.
Also, CEP will review the environmental
performance of Montenegro and Serbia, as well as
consider the progress made in the environmental
monitoring, assessment and reporting activities, and
developments in a number of cross-cutting activities.
In addition, CEP will consider the opening and
promotion of the ECE multilateral environmental
agreements (MEAs) beyond the region, and the
practice of submission of national implementation
reports under the MEAs.
Website:
www.unece.org/env/cep/2014sessionoctober.html
30-31
Group of Experts on Euro-Asian Transport
Links
Focal point: Miroslav Jovanovic
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2493
E-mail: miroslav.jovanovic [at] unece.org
V
This 11th meeting of the Group of Experts on EuroAsian Transport Links shall continue considerations
and identification of specific obstacles to overland
transport and trade between the two regions. The
Group shall consider proposals to policymakers to
ease and eliminate those obstacles.
Website:
www.unece.org/trans/main/wp5/wp5_ge2_11.html
30-31
Group of Experts towards Unified Railway
Law
Focal point: Konstantinos Alexopoulos
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3758
E-mail: konstantinos.alexopoulos [at] unece.org
VIII
Website:
www.unece.org/trans/main/sc2/sc2_geurl_09.html
JUST ISSUED
Innovation Performance Review of Armenia
ECE/CECI/21 – ISBN 978-92-1-117079-5 – E (R forthcoming)
Rovaniemi Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy
ECE/TIM/SP/35 – Sales # E.14.II.E.8 – ISBN 978-92-1-117078-8 – E (F,R forthcoming)
European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
Applicable as from 1 January 2015
ECE/TRANS/242 – Complete set of two volumes
Sales # E.14.VIII.1 – ISBN 978-92-1-139149-7 (Vol. I & II) – E (F & R forthcoming)
If you need more information do not hesitate to contact us: Information Unit, United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE), Palais des Nations, Room 356, CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Phone: +41(0)22 917 4444, Fax: +41(0)22 917 0505, E-mail: [email protected],
or have a look at our website: http://www.unece.org