Report of the joint meeting of the bureaux of the conferences of the parties
to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
Geneva, Switzerland, 11-12 November 2014
1. Opening of the meeting
1. The bureaux of the conferences of the parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on
the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants met jointly on
11-12 November 2014 at the International Environment House, Geneva, Switzerland. The list of
participants is contained in annex I to the present meeting report1.
2. Ms. Johanna Lissinger Peitz (Sweden), President of the Conference of the Parties to the
Stockholm Convention, opened the meeting at 10:10 am. Introductory remarks were given by Ms.
Lissinger Peitz, Mr. Mohammed Oglah Hussein Khashashneh (Jordan), President of the
Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention, Mr. Andrzej Jagusiewicz (Poland)
President of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, and Mr. Rolph Payet,
Executive Secretary of the three conventions.
3. Ms. Christine Fuell, coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) part of the Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention, gave introductory remarks on
behalf of and conveyed regards from Mr. Clayton Campanhola, Executive Secretary of the
Rotterdam Convention, who was unable to attend the meeting.
4. The Secretariat then explained that at their first joint meeting in March 2011, the bureaux had
decided to rotate the chairmanship of joint bureaux meetings among the presidents in alphabetical
order, starting with the President of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention. The
President of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Ms. Lissinger Peitz,
would thus chair the present third joint bureaux meeting.
2. Adoption of the agenda
5. The agenda was adopted on the basis of the provisional agenda made available before the
meeting and is included in annex II to the present report.
3. Matters related to the organization of the ordinary meetings of the conferences of the
parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to be held back-to-back
in 2015
(a) Organization of work of the meetings
Organization of work
6. The bureaux had before them a draft tentative schedule of work and elements of a scenario
note for the meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions in May 2015.
7. Ms. Lissinger Peitz recalled that the bureaux needed to finalize the tentative schedule of the
meetings, with a view to prioritizing substantive matters on the agendas of the meetings and
making best use of the back-to-back meeting arrangements.
1
In accordance with decisions BC-11/25 and SC-6/29, five of the ten members of the Basel and
Stockholm conventions bureaux of the conferences of the parties attended the joint bureaux meeting.
8. The Secretariat introduced the documents, outlining the items to be covered during each
session, including those proposed to be dealt with in joint sessions. As agreed to at the individual
bureaux meetings in May/June 2014, the meetings would start with a day and half of joint sessions,
followed by sequential sessions of the meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Stockholm,
Basel and Rotterdam conventions. The Secretariat also provided an overview of the different
contact and other groups that could be set up.
9. In the ensuing discussion, bureaux members proposed dealing with two additional items in
joint sessions. First, on compliance, several bureaux members felt that a solution might be found
more easily under the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions if the items were dealt with
separately. However, most members supported introducing the items jointly to provide a clear
explanation in plenary on outstanding issues under the two conventions and to allow for an early
establishment of groups focusing on convention-specific issues. One member cautioned that the
issue of compliance was different under the three conventions and should be dealt with separately
under each convention. The bureaux then agreed to introduce compliance under the Rotterdam and
Stockholm conventions in a joint session, followed by the potential establishment of two separate
friends-of-the-presidents groups.
10. A number of bureaux members expressed concern about the amount of work to be dealt with
under the Basel Convention, in particular on technical issues. The President of the Conference of
the Parties to the Basel Convention thus proposed introducing the Basel Convention technical
guidelines on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) wastes and the Stockholm Convention agenda
item on wastes in a joint session of the two conventions. This would enable Basel and Stockholm
conventions experts to participate in the discussions and the Conference of the Parties to the Basel
Convention to set up a contact group on the POPs wastes guidelines early in the two-week period.
The bureaux agreed to the proposal.
11. In answer to a question by a Bureau member on the joint session on international cooperation,
the Secretariat explained that it currently implemented most of its cooperation activities jointly for
the three conventions. A joint session provided an opportunity to assess these activities and discuss
how to make best use of them to advance the implementation of the conventions. The session
would cover the topic of wider cooperation of the 2013 omnibus decision on enhancing
cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions 2, as well as
other relevant developments on the international sustainable development agenda and their
linkages to the chemicals and wastes conventions, such as outcomes of the first United Nations
Environment Assembly or discussions on the broader sustainable development goals. The review
of synergies arrangements, however, would be covered under the agenda items on programmes of
work and budget.
12. The bureaux reflected on the time needed for convention-specific sessions of the meetings of
the conferences of the parties. One member felt that the agenda of the Rotterdam Convention
meeting was relatively light and that Basel Convention experts should be prepared to prolong their
stay in Geneva to continue discussions on Basel Convention matters. Despite a busy schedule, the
bureaux supported the proposal from the Secretariat of keeping the Sunday 10 May 2015 free in
order to allow delegates to recover.
13. During the discussion on contact and other groups, a number of bureaux members sought
clarification on how many groups were envisaged to meet at the same time. The Secretariat replied
that as in the past, the conferences of the parties might want to have up to two groups meet in
parallel to plenary and up to three groups in the evenings. In order to facilitate the participation of
developing countries and countries with economies in transition in discussions in contact groups,
financial support to eligible delegates for the three conventions would be provided for the full twoweek period of the meetings.
14. Ms. Lissinger Peitz recalled that at its meeting in May 2014, the Stockholm Convention
Bureau had discussed the possibility of using smaller groups on certain agenda items. This
approach was discussed and supported by the bureaux. It was thus agreed that in a addition to
compliance under the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, discussions on the terms of reference
for the review of arrangements could be conducted in a friends-of-the-presidents group.
2
Decision BC.Ex-2/1, RC.Ex-2/1 and SC.Ex-2/1.
2
15. In response to a question from a Bureau member, the Secretariat clarified that no provisions
had been made in the budgets for 2014-2015 to provide interpretation for regional meetings during
the meetings of the conferences of the parties. The bureaux members requested the Secretariat to
indicate this clearly in the scenario note for the 2015 meetings of the conferences of the parties.
16. Finally, several bureaux members mentioned that the contact group on programmes of work
and budget could be established at the beginning of the two-week period. The group would
however be expected to meet less often in the first week to allow groups working on substantive
matters to progress and more often in the second week, once it had decisions on substantive
matters in front of it for consideration of their financial implications. It was stressed that the
participation of all regions in this contact group was crucial and that parties should prepare for the
budget discussions.
17. The bureaux approved the tentative schedule of work for the 2015 meetings of the conferences
of the parties, including joint sessions on joint issues, as set out in annex III to the present report.
The bureaux requested the Secretariat to post the schedule as soon as possible on the website of the
three conventions and to introduce it during the regional preparatory meetings for the 2015
meetings of the conferences of the parties. The bureaux also took note of the list of possible
contact and other groups and requested the Secretariat to take into account their discussion when
preparing the scenario note and the annotations to the provisional agendas for the 2015 meetings of
the conferences of the parties.
18. In concluding, Ms. Lissinger Peitz called upon parties to make sure experts were available for
negotiations during the whole two-week period of the meetings. She urged for flexibility in
scheduling contact and other groups, though the schedule of work would given a general indication
when groups would be meeting.
Compliance under the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
19. The bureaux then considered a brief on compliance under the Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions.
20. The representative of the Secretariat introduced the document, drawing attention to the list of
outstanding issues under the two conventions. She added that the section containing information
on possible lessons learned from compliance mechanisms under other multilateral environmental
agreements would be updated, following recent developments under the Nagoya Protocol on
Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their
Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
21. In the ensuing discussion, the presidents and several bureaux members underscored the
importance and priority of reaching agreement on compliance under the Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions at the upcoming meetings of the conferences of the parties.
22. The bureaux members took note of the information provided and welcomed the brief and the
preparation of an updated version taking into account developments under the Nagoya Protocol.
The bureaux requested the Secretariat to widely disseminate the brief, including through webinars
and during the regional preparatory meetings. The bureaux also welcomed the organizing of a
luncheon briefing with Permanent Missions in Geneva for both conventions to take place in 2015.
(b)
Credentials
23. On this item, the bureaux had before them a document on the preparation of the reports on
credentials for the meetings of the conferences of the parties in 2015.
24. Ms. Lissinger Peitz pointed out that the conferences of the parties had previously managed to
deal with credentials in a pragmatic way. She stressed that credentials were important for the
credibility of the meetings, but should be approached with a view to facilitating inclusion of
participants in the meetings. She encouraged the bureaux to find a way back to a clear and
pragmatic solution on handling credentials.
3
25. The Secretariat summarized the document, noting that it had consulted extensively in
particular with FAO on the topic. The document contained written advice from UNEP’s Division
of Environmental Law and Conventions on the process for handling credentials.
26. Mr. Ilja Betlem, legal officer in FAO, provided background information on practices related to
credentials in the United Nations system. A flexible approach was usually applied, whereby
documents that were not fully compliant with requirements were typically accepted, in order to not
exclude members from exercising their rights in meetings and bodies. Special consideration was
additionally given to countries that could give rise to controversy on the question of representation.
In particular, in accordance with Resolution 396 (V) of 14 December 1950 of the General
Assembly (‘Recognition by the United Nations of the representation of a Member State’),
whenever more than one authority claims to be the Government entitled to represent a Member
State in the United Nations and this question becomes the subject of controversy in the United
Nations, the attitude adopted by the General Assembly is taken into account in other organs of the
United Nations and in the Specialized Agencies. This methodology has been applied consistently
throughout the UN system since the adoption of Resolution 396 (V).
27. In the ensuing discussion, the bureaux agreed to accept, in addition to original credentials,
copies of credentials on the understanding that original credentials would be submitted as soon as
possible. On the deadline by which originals had to be submitted, the members discussed different
options, such as by the end of the meetings or one month after the meetings. The bureaux
concluded that originals should be provided as soon as possible, however, without establishing a
deadline for the submission of original credentials. This approach would avoid that the status of
participants in the meeting would need to be re-assessed following the closure of the meetings.
28. The bureaux then debated whether copies of credentials had to be accompanied by a letter or
Note Verbale from a Permanent Mission in order to be accepted. Although this could work well for
meetings in Geneva, this could prove challenging in other meeting locations with fewer diplomatic
representations. The bureaux thus agreed that no accompanying letter was required to authenticate
a copy of credentials.
29. The bureaux requested the Secretariat to make the necessary arrangements to ensure parties
were fully informed of the bureaux’ decision well in advance of the 2015 meetings of the
conferences of the parties, among others through the regional preparatory meetings and the
invitation letters for the meetings of the conferences of the parties.
(c)
Election of officers and subsidiary body members
30. On this item, the bureaux had before them a document on elections of officers and subsidiary
body members to take place during the meetings of the conferences of the parties.
31. Ms. Lissinger Peitz recalled that at its meeting in May 2014, the Bureau of the Conference of
the Parties to the Basel Convention had highlighted a difference between the rules of procedure of
the three conventions with respect to the requirement of presence at the meeting as an eligibility
requirement for election as officer of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, with the
Rotterdam Convention rules not requiring such presence. The Bureau had decided to invite the
Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention to consider aligning the rules
of procedure of that Convention with those of the Basel and Stockholm conventions. The Bureau
of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention had noted the suggestion.
32. In the ensuing discussion, the bureaux members reflected on the differences among the
requirements of the conventions. The bureaux agreed that there was no need to take a decision on
the issue at the present meeting and that it might be better placed for discussion at individual
bureaux meetings.
33. The bureaux then turned to the topic of rotation of presidents and rapporteurs of the meetings
of the conferences of the parties. The representative of the Secretariat explained that if the past
practice of rotation was followed, in 2017 two of the three presidents of the meetings of the
conferences of the parties would come from the same region, namely the African States region.
The elections to this effect would be held at the 2015 meetings of the conferences of the parties.
He presented a proposal, following which the Asia and Pacific States and the African States would
4
switch their presidency in 2017 for the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, thus
leading to a more regionally balanced group of presidents.
34. In the ensuing discussion, the bureaux supported the proposal, highlighting however that it
was up to the African States and the Asian and the Pacific States to agree to this proposal at the
meetings of the conferences of the parties in 2015. The bureaux invited the regions to consult on
the matter and to discuss it further during the regional preparatory meetings.
(d)
Theme of the meetings and the science fair
35. On this item, the bureaux had before them concept notes on the theme and on the science fair
of the meetings of the conferences of the parties in 2015.
36. The Secretariat recalled that at their meetings in May/June 2014, the bureaux had expressed
support for the proposed theme “from science to action, working for a safer tomorrow”. The
Secretariat was currently developing its communication plan and a visual identity for the meeting.
37. On the science fair, the Secretariat provided an update on the current status of preparations of
the fair, scheduled to take place from Thursday, 7 May 2015, to Saturday, 9 May 2015. The idea of
the science fair had been presented to scientific expert groups and subsidiary bodies under the
conventions who had provided feedback and ideas for the implementation of the fair. The
Secretariat was taking the comments into account in its preparations.
38. In the ensuing discussion, bureaux members highlighted the importance of attracting public
awareness on the chemicals and wastes conventions, as well as explaining scientific processes
underlying the conventions to decision-makers. In this light, the bureaux welcomed the
opportunity of the science fair to sensitize the public about the conventions and to highlight the
scientific and technical issues under the conventions, thus increasing transparency and credibility
of the processes under the conventions. Some bureaux members expressed their hope that the fair
would be part of a wider effort to bridge the science-policy gap at the national level. It was
suggested that, where relevant, discussions at the meetings of the conferences of the parties should
be linked to the theme, for example under the agenda item of international cooperation and
coordination.
39. The bureaux members also provided concrete proposals on topics to cover and potential
events for the fair. In addition to topics under the three conventions, the fair would provide an
opportunity to discuss related topics on the international sustainable development agenda, such as
green economies, circular economies, energy efficiency, integrating sustainable chemicals
management in social and economic policies or the linkages between sound chemicals and wastes
management on climate change and biodiversity.
40. The Executive Secretary mentioned that increasing the visibility of the conventions was one of
his priorities. The Secretariat was developing a new communication strategy in order to bring the
topics under the three conventions closer to the general public. Bureaux members mentioned
cooperation with partners and drawing linkages with other topics, such as climate change or
biodiversity, as potential avenues to explore in this regard.
41. The bureaux took note of the information provided.
4.
Review of the synergies arrangements
42. On this item, the bureaux had before them elements of draft terms of reference for the review
of the synergies arrangements.
43. Ms. Lissinger Peitz explained that the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the
Stockholm Convention had requested the Secretariat to prepare a first draft of the terms of
reference for consideration at the joint bureaux meeting. The aim was to discuss the issue in
advance of the meetings of the conferences of the parties and provide feedback, in order to better
structure the discussions at the meetings.
5
44. The Deputy Executive Secretary then introduced the document, mentioning that the proposal
was for the review of the synergies arrangements to cover three interlinked processes: (1) the
review of the synergies arrangements based on the independent assessment of the implementation
and impact of joint activities and joint managerial functions, including joint services, at all levels; 3
(2) the review by the Executive Director of UNEP of the matrix-based management approach and
organization of the Secretariat;4 and (3) the review by the Executive Secretary of the conventions
on the organization and operation of the part of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat hosted by
FAO to enhance synergies arrangements.
45. In the ensuing discussion, bureaux members pointed out that the review should elaborate on
the impact activities had had on reaching the objectives of the synergies process, and how they
contributed to helping countries implement the conventions. Bureaux members suggested topics to
be covered by the review, such as efficiency, effectiveness, consistent decision making and crossfertilization of ideas. The report should look at lessons learned from the synergies process, analyze
gaps and include recommendations on how to further enhance synergies.
46. The bureaux took note of the information provided and requested the Secretariat to revise the
draft terms of reference for the review taking into account the input provided by the bureaux for
presentation to the meetings of the conferences of the parties in 2015.
5.
Overview of the budget preparations
47. On this item, the bureaux had before them an overview of the budget preparations for the
programmes of work of the three conventions for the biennium 2016-2017.
48. The Secretariat highlighted that it was currently finalizing the two scenarios for the
programmes of work and budgets for the conventions. The format and presentation of the budgets
would be similar to the ones adopted in 2013, including convention-specific and joint activities.
The Secretariat drew attention to the information on the cost savings resulting from synergies for
the biennium 2012-2013. Most of the cost savings had not materialized in practice, due to
increased salary costs caused by exchange rate fluctuations and arrears in assessed contributions.
The Secretariat thus had had to use the savings for its daily operations.
49. In the ensuing discussion, one Bureau member sought further clarification on the possibility of
having a budget in more than one currency to safeguard it against exchange rate fluctuations. The
Secretariat explained that the Rotterdam Convention had undertaken a study on this matter in 2009
and that the new UN financial system, scheduled to be implemented in 2015, should allow the
Secretariat to use more than one currency on the conventions trust funds. This could thus be
something for parties to consider for the next biennium.
50. The bureaux took note of the information provided and requested the Secretariat to inform the
bureaux members by email when it posted new financial information on the conventions websites.
6.
Wider cooperation
(a)
Outcomes of the first United Nations Environment Assembly of relevance to
the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
(b)
Other developments of relevance to the conventions, including with regards to
the broader sustainable development agenda, the Minamata Convention and
the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
51. The bureaux took up sub-items 6 (a) and (b) together.
3
4
Paragraphs 5 and 6 of decision BC.Ex-2/1, RC.Ex-2/1 and SC.Ex-2/1
Paragraph 13 of decision BC.Ex-2/1, RC.Ex-2/1 and SC.Ex-2/1
6
52. Ms. Lissinger Peitz drew attention to the first United Nations Environment Assembly
(UNEA), held on 23 - 27 June 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya, including relevant decisions for the
chemicals and wastes conventions taken at the meeting. She recalled that the consultative process
on financing options for chemicals and wastes had been launched at the fourth meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention. The process had lead to the development
of the integrated approach on financing sound management of chemicals and wastes, including one
of its elements, the special programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level.
53. The Secretariat provided an update on the implementation of the 2013 omnibus decision
related to the integrated approach. By that decision, the Executive Secretary had been requested to
ensure that the Secretariat’s activities and support to parties took as reference the integrated
approach, to report on progress in implementing its three components, mainstreaming, industry
involvement and dedicated external finance, and to highlight challenges in mobilizing financial
resources within these components. It would present a document on the topic to the upcoming
meetings of the conferences of the parties. The Secretariat also outlined its involvement in the
UNEP-led Special Programme Internal Task Team.
54. Ms. Fatoumata Keita-Ouane, Head of UNEP’s Chemicals Branch, provided an update on the
special programme, highlighting that its aim was to strengthen institutional settings at the national
level for the implementation in a coordinated manner of the Basel, Mercury, Rotterdam and
Stockholm conventions, as well as the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
(SAICM). After the adoption of a UNEA resolution on the matter last June, UNEP was now
looking into concrete modalities for setting up the programme, in particular the establishment and
nomination of members for the executive board, through the Special Programme Internal Task
Team.
55. Mr. Jacob Duer, Team Coordinator of the interim Secretariat of the Minamata Convention and
SAICM Coordinator, briefed the bureaux on the outcomes of the sixth session of the
intergovernmental negotiating committee on mercury, held in Bangkok, Thailand on 3-7
November 2014. He informed the bureaux of the upcoming meeting of the SAICM Open-ended
Working Group scheduled to be held on 15-17 December 2014 in Geneva.
56. In the ensuing discussion, bureaux members sought clarification on the timeline for
establishing the special programme, the membership of the executive board and how the special
programme could be used to further enhance the implementation of the chemicals and wastes
agreements at the national level. Ms. Keita-Ouane clarified that the Special Programme Internal
Task Team was aiming at setting up an interim secretariat for the special programme by January
2015 and the executive board by March 2015. The start of the implementation of projects would
depend on the availability of funding. An information meeting document could be made available
to the meetings of the conferences of the parties in May 2015 on progress made.
57. The bureaux reflected on synergies among the Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions and the hosting of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention. One member reflected
on how cooperation and coordination among the four conventions and how the expertise from the
Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions could be used to facilitate implementation of the
Minamata Convention, keeping in mind the legally autonomy of each Convention. Several
members expressed their wish for increased cooperation among the four conventions. One Bureau
member recalled that the sixth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee had invited
proposals for hosting the Secretariat. Parties to the Minamata Convention would take a decision on
the hosting of the Secretariat at the first meeting of the conference of the parties, considering the
various options.
58. In addition, the bureaux members discussed interlinkages with other items on the broader
international sustainable development agenda, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly,
the sustainable development goals, climate change, biodiversity and other relevant meetings.
59. The bureaux took note of the information provided.
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7.
Regional meetings to assist preparatory processes for the 2015 back-to back
meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions
60. The Deputy Executive Secretary informed the bureaux of the dates and venues for four
regional meetings5 and that logistical preparations were ongoing. The Secretariat had sent a draft
programme for the meetings to the bureaux members, in order to get their feedback and to tailor
the content of the meetings to the requirements and priorities of each region.
61. In the ensuing discussion, the chair and the bureaux members highlighted the importance of
the regional preparatory meetings and thanked Switzerland for its generous financial contributions
towards the meetings. The bureaux members provided feed-back on the draft programme,
mentioning priority topics to be dealt with in the different regions.
62. Several bureaux members felt that in order for the regions to be fully prepared for the
meetings of the conferences of the parties, two participants per party country should attend the
preparatory meetings. The Secretariat clarified that resources available currently only allowed for
funding one participant per party country, who would also attend the Minamata workshop.
Likewise, one participant of the Minamata workshop would be funded to attend the regional
preparatory meetings. Additionally, funding had been secured to support the participation of the
Basel and Stockholm convention regional centres. The Secretariat invited the bureaux members to
indicate whether they would like to invite other observers, such as representatives from UNEP and
FAO regional offices, who would need to participate at their own costs.
63. The Secretariat promised to continue fund-raising efforts to allow for the participation of a
second Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions delegate. One member suggested that if no
additional funds were identified, countries could bring a second participant at their own expense.
64. The bureaux took note of the information provided and expressed their wish to take an active
role in organizing and running the meetings, including by providing comments on the draft
programme in writing and chairing the meetings.
8.
Arrears in assessed contributions to the three conventions
65. On this item, the bureaux had before them information on arrears in assessed contributions to
the general trust funds of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, as of 31 October 2014.
66. The Secretariat reported that it had continued its efforts to enhance communication and to
liaise with parties on their outstanding payments. Invoices for 2015 had been sent out, with a copy
to the focal points and permanent missions in Geneva. Starting from the next biennium, UNEP
headquarters could send invoices for the full biennium, instead of on a yearly basis, to allow
countries to pay their assessed contributions for the whole biennium in the first year, if they wished
so. As requested by the conferences of the parties at their meetings in 2013, the Secretariat would
present a document on options for incentives and measures to deal with the challenges related to
arrears at the 2015 meetings of the conferences of the parties.
67. In the ensuing discussion, one Bureau member noted that the measures should contain both
positive and negative incentives. She added that countries that were in difficult political or
financial situations should be given special consideration when being in arrears. The Secretariat
invited the bureaux members to communicate such information to them. Arrangements for
payment schedules could be discussed in such cases.
5
Asia-Pacific Region: 17-20 March 2015, in Jakarta, Indonesia, in cooperation with the Basel and
Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre in Indonesia; African Region: 24-27 March 2015, Nairobi,
Kenya, in cooperation with UNEP and the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre in Kenya; CEE: 710 April 2015, Bratislava, Slovakia, in cooperation with the Basel Convention Regional Centre in
Slovakia; GRULAC: 14-17 April 2015, Montevideo, Uruguay, in cooperation with the Basel
Convention Coordinating Centre and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre in Uruguay. All meetings
will be for two days and will be held back-to-back with two-day workshops to support the ratification
and early implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
8
68. A number of bureaux members mentioned that arrears were often due to communication
problems and thus welcomed the effort by the Secretariat to involve bureaux members and focal
points in communicating on outstanding payments.
69. A number of members expressed concern about the levels of outstanding payments and arrears
and their impact on the conventions’ budgets. One member suggested mentioning arrears during
the regional preparatory meetings.
70. The bureaux took note of the information provided.
9.
Other matters
71. Under this agenda item, the bureaux discussed the memorandums of understandings between
the United Nations Environment Programme and the conferences of the parties to the Basel,
Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions.
72. The Executive Secretary explained that all three memorandums would be bilateral, between
each Conference of the Parties and the Executive Director of UNEP. In the case of the Rotterdam
Convention, the legal department of FAO had indicated that there was already a memorandum of
understanding between the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Director of UNEP on the
performance of secretariat functions and that there was thus no need to further clarify by means of
another memorandum. The Executive Secretary added that the Secretariat was currently waiting
for feedback on the draft memorandums from UNEP, in order to present them as meeting
documents to the meetings of the conferences of the parties in 2015 for adoption.
73. In the ensuing discussion, the bureaux members expressed concern that a delay in receiving
comments from UNEP could lead to a similar situation as in 2013, where documents containing
comments from UNEP were made available in English only shortly before the meetings. The
bureaux thus agreed to send a strong signal to the Executive Director of UNEP on the urgency of
having a version of the memorandums incorporating UNEP’s comments submitted to the
Secretariat by 27 November 2014. This would allow the Secretariat to make the document
available in all 6 official languages of the United Nations and to enable the conferences of the
parties to adopt the memorandums at their meetings in 2015.
74. The bureaux took note of the information provided.
10. Closure of the meeting
75. The meeting was closed at 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 November 2014.
9
Annex I
Joint meeting of the bureaux of the conferences of the parties
to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions,
11-12 November 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
List of participants
Basel Convention Bureau
AFRICA
LIBERIA (Vice-President)
Mr. Henry Williams
Intersectoral Department
Environmental Protection Agency
4th Street Sinkor
P.O. Box 4024
Monrovia
Liberia
Tel: +231 886 587 734
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
ASIA AND PACIFIC
LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
JAMAICA (Vice-President)
Ms Gillian Guthrie
Senior Director
Environmental Management Division
Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate
Change
16A Half Way Tree Road
5 Kingston
Jamaica
Tel: +1 876 633 7550
Fax: +1 876 920 7267
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN (Vice-President)
Dr. Hadi Farajvand
Secretary of National Authority on
Chemical Conventions
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Building 8/2, United Nations Street
Ferdousi Avenue, Imam Khomeini Square
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: +98 21 6115 4336
Fax: +98 21 6674 0094
Email: [email protected]
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
POLAND (President)
Mr. Andrzej Jagusiewicz
Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection
Inspectorate of Environmental Protection
UL Wawelska 52/54
00-922 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48 (22) 8253325
Fax: +48 (22) 8250465
Email: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
WESTERN EUROPE AND OTHERS
SWITZERLAND (Vice-President)
Mr. Luca Arnold
Head of Section
Global Affairs
Federal Office for the Environment
Bern
Switzerland
Tel: +41 31 323 45 61
Fax: +41 31 323 03 49
Email: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Rotterdam Convention Bureau
AFRICA
LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
ZAMBIA (Vice-President)
COSTA RICA (Vice-President)
Mr. David Kapindula
Principal Inspector
Zambia Environmental Management Agency
(ZEMA)
Corner Church and Suez Roads
P.O. Box 35131
Lusaka
Zambia
Tel: +260 211 254 023
Fax: +260 211 254 164
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Mario A. Vega Hernández
Minister Counsellor, Environmental Affairs
Officer
Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the
United Nations Office and
other International Organizations in Geneva
Avenue de France 23
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 731 25 87
Fax: +41 22 731 20 62
Email: [email protected]
ASIA AND PACIFIC
JORDAN (President)
Dr. Mohammed Oglah Hussein Khashashneh
Director
Hazardous Substances and Waste
Management Directorate
Ministry of Environment
King Feisal bin Abdel Aziz Street 83
P.O. Box 1408
11941 Amman
Jordan
Tel: +962 6 556 0113 x 140
Mob.: +962 7 762 96294
Fax: +962 6 552 5315
Email: [email protected] /
[email protected]
CENTRAL AND EASTERN
EUROPE
GEORGIA (Vice-President)
Ms. Ana Berejiani
Chief Specialist
Waste and Chemicals Management Service
Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources Protection of Georgia
6 G. Gulua Str.
0114 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel: +995 32 2727227 / +995 593 948 617
E-mail: [email protected] /
[email protected]
WESTERN EUROPE AND
OTHERS
FRANCE (Vice-President)
Ms. Marie-Pierre Méganck
Chargée de la Cellule Européenne et
Internationale
Direction Générale de la Prévention des
Risques
Ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement
Durable et de l'Energie
Tour Sequoia
92055 La Défense Cedex
France
Tel: +33 1 40 81 86 38
Fax: +33 1 40 81 86 41
Email : [email protected]
Stockholm Convention Bureau
AFRICA
CENTRAL AND EASTERN
EUROPE
SWAZILAND (Vice-President)
SERBIA (Vice-President)
Mr. Vusumuzi Fortune Simelane
Environmental Inspector
Environmental Assessment and Compliance
Swaziland Environment Authority
Karl Grant Street
Former MTN Office Park
P.O. Box 2602
100 Mbabane
Swaziland
Tel: +268 2404 69 60
Fax: +268 2404 17 18
Email: [email protected]
ASIA AND PACIFIC
COOK ISLANDS (Vice-President)
Mr. Vaitoti Tupa
Director
National Environment Service
Avarua
P.O. Box 371
Rarotonga
Cook Islands
Tel: +682 212 56
Fax: +682 222 56
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
Ms Gordana Petković
Senior Legal Advisor
Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental
Protection
1 Omladinskih Brigada Street
11070 Belgrade
Serbia
Tel: +381 11 26 91 672
Email: [email protected]
LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
ECUADOR (Vice-President)
Mr. Luís Ignacio Vayas Valdivieso
Ministro
Embajada de Ecuador en España
C/ Velázquez 114 - 2º D
España
Tel: +34 915 627 215
Fax: +34 917 450 244
Email: [email protected]
WESTERN EUROPE AND
OTHERS
SWEDEN (President)
Ms. Johanna Lissinger Peitz
Deputy Director
Division for Climate
Ministry of Environment
Tegelbacken 2
103 33 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 405 5561
Fax: +46 7 349 2022
Email: [email protected]
12
Annex II
Joint meeting of the bureaux of the conferences of the parties
to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
11-12 November 2014
Geneva, Switzerland
International Environment House II
Room: Rhin
Provisional agenda
1.
Opening of the meeting.
2.
Adoption of the agenda.
3.
Matters related to the organization of the ordinary meetings of the
conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to be held
back-to-back in 2015:
(a)
Organization of work of the meetings;
(b)
Credentials;
(c)
Election of officers and subsidiary body members;
(d)
Theme of the meetings and the science fair.
4.
Review of the synergies arrangements.
5.
Overview of the budget preparations.
6.
Wider Cooperation:
(a)
Outcomes of the first United Nations Environment Assembly of
relevance to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions;
(b)
Other developments of relevance to the conventions, including
with regards to the broader sustainable development agenda, the
Minamata Convention and the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management.
7.
Regional meetings to assist preparatory processes for the 2015 back-to-back
meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions.
8.
Arrears in assessed contributions to the three conventions.
9.
Other matters.
10.
Closure of the meeting.
13
Annex III
Tentative schedule of work for the meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions from 4
to 15 May 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland, reflecting discussions at the joint bureaux meeting (draft of 12 November 2014)6
Mon, 4 May 2015
BC Item 1: Opening of the meeting
BC Item 2: Adoption of the agenda
RC Item 1: Opening of the meeting
RC Item 2: Adoption of the agenda
SC Item 1: Opening of the meeting
SC Item 2: Adoption of the agenda
Joint session of the three COPs:
BC Item 3; RC Item 3; SC Item 3:
Organizational matters
(b) Organization of work
BC Item 3; RC Item 3; SC Item 3
(cont.)
(a) Election of officers
Morning
session
10 a.m.–
1 p.m.
BC Item 3; RC Item 3; SC Item 3
(cont.)
(c) Credentials
BC Item 4: Matters related to the
implementation of the Convention
(b) Scientific and technical matters:
(i) Technical guidelines (only POPs
wastes)
SC Item 5: Matters related to the
implementation of the Convention
(c) Measures to reduce or eliminate
releases from wastes
Joint session of the three COPs:
BC Item 4 (cont.)
(d) Technical assistance:
(i) Capacity-building
(ii) Basel Convention regional and
coordinating centres
RC Item 5: Matters related to the
implementation of the Convention
(d) Technical assistance
SC Item 5 (cont.)
(f) Technical assistance
Afternoon
session
3–6 p.m.
BC Item 4 (cont.)
(f) Financial resources
RC Item 5 (cont.)
(e) Financial resources
SC Item 5 (cont.)
(g) Financial resources and mechanisms
Tue, 5 May 2015
Reports of contact and other groups
Joint session of the three COPs:
RC Item 5 (cont.)
(c) Non-compliance
SC Item 5 (cont.)
(j) Non-compliance
BC Item 4 (cont.)
(e) International cooperation, coordination
and partnerships:
(iv) Other international cooperation and
coordination
RC Item 5 (cont.)
(f) International cooperation and
coordination
SC Item 5 (cont.)
(k) International cooperation and
coordination
Wed, 6 May 2015
Reports of contact and other
groups
Thu, 7 May 2015
Reports of contact and other
groups
Fri, 8 May 2015
Reports of contact and other
groups
Sat, 9 May 2015
Reports of contact and other
groups
Session of SC COP-7:
Item 5 (cont.)
(a) Measures to reduce or
eliminate releases from
intentional production and use:
(ii) DDT
(iii) Polychlorinated
biphenyls
(iv) Brominated diphenyl
ethers and perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid, its salts and
perfluorooctane sulfonyl
fluoride
Session of SC COP-7:
Consideration of the outcomes
of the contact groups and draft
decisions
Item 5 (cont.)
(h) Reporting pursuant to
Article 15
(i) Effectiveness evaluation
(a) Measures to reduce or
eliminate releases from
intentional production and use:
(v) Evaluation of the
continued need for the
procedure under paragraph
2(b) of Article 3
Session of BC COP-12:
Item 4 (cont.)
(b) Scientific and technical
matters:
(i) Technical guidelines
(excluding POPs wastes)
(a) Strategic issues:
(i) Follow-up to the
Indonesian-Swiss
country-led initiative to
improve the effectiveness
of the Basel Convention
(ii) Strategic framework
(iii) Cartagena
Declaration
Session of BC COP-12:
Item 4 (cont.)
(c) Legal, compliance and
governance matters:
(i) Committee for
Administering the
Mechanism for Promoting
Implementation and
Compliance of the Basel
Convention
(ii) National legislation,
notifications, enforcement
of the Convention and
efforts to combat illegal
traffic
(g) Operations and work
programme of the OEWG
for 2016–2017
Session of SC COP-7:
Item 5 (cont.)
(b) Measures to reduce or
eliminate releases from
unintentional production
(d) Implementation plans
Session of SC COP-7:
Session of SC COP-7:
Consideration of the outcomes
of the contact groups and draft
decisions
Consideration of the
outcomes of the contact
groups and draft decisions
Item 8 (cont.) (excluding
admission of observers and
development of a draft MOU)
Item 9: Adoption of the
report
Session of BC COP-12:
Item 4 (cont.)
(b) Scientific and technical
matters:
(ii) Amendments to the
annexes to the Basel
Convention
(iii) Classification and
hazard characterization of
wastes
(iv) National reporting
(d) Technical assistance:
(iii) Implementation of
decision V/32 on the
enlargement of the scope
of the Trust Fund
BC Item 5; RC Item 6; SC Item 6:
Programme of work and budget
BC Item 6; RC Item 7; SC Item 7:
Venue and date of the next COPs
BC Item 7; RC Item 8; SC Item 8:
Other matters (only admission of
observers and development of draft
MOUs)
Session of SC COP-7:
Item 4: Rules of procedure
Item 5 (cont.)
(j) Non-compliance (cont.)
(e) Listing of chemicals (chlorinated
naphthalenes, hexachlorobutadiene,
pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters)
(a) Measures to reduce or eliminate
releases from intentional production and
use:
(i) Exemptions
Adoption of the section of
the reports on the joint
sessions of the meetings of
the COPs7
6
Items listed in the tentative schedule are from the provisional agendas of the meetings (UNEP/CHW.12/1; UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.7/1; UNEP/POPS/COP.7/1).
The conferences of the parties will meet in joint sessions to adopt the section of their respective report covering the joint sessions held on Monday, 4 May 2015 and on the morning of Tuesday, 5 May 2015. The timing of this
adoption is subject to change if the bureaux of the three conferences of the parties so decide.
7
14
Sun, 10
May 2015
No formal
meetings
No formal
meetings
Tue, 12 May 2015
Wed, 13 May 2015
Thu, 14 May 2015
Fri, 15 May 2015
Reports of contact and other groups
Reports of contact and other groups
Reports of contact and other groups
Reports of contact and other groups
Reports of contact and other groups
Session of BC COP-12:
Session of RC COP-7:
Session of RC COP-7:
Session of RC COP-7:
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Item 4: Rules of procedure
Item 5 (cont.)
(b) Chemicals for inclusion in Annex
III (cont.)
(a) Status of implementation
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Joint session of the three COPs:
Consideration of the outcomes of the
joint contact groups and discussions
of outstanding joint issues
Item 4: (cont.)
(e) International cooperation,
coordination and partnerships:
(i) Basel Convention Partnership
Programme
(ii) Environmentally sound
dismantling of ships
(iii) Cooperation with the
International Maritime
Organization
Morning
session
10 a.m.–
1 p.m.
Afternoon
session
3–6 p.m.
Mon, 11 May 2015
Item 5 (cont.)
(c) Non-compliance (cont.)
(b) Chemicals for inclusion in Annex
III (methamidophos, fenthion
formulation, trichlorfon, paraquat
dichloride formulation, chrysotile
asbestos)
Item 8 (cont.) (excluding admission
of observers and development of a
draft MOU)
Session of BC COP-12:
Session of BC COP-12:
Session of RC COP-7:
Session of RC COP-7:
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Item 7 (cont.) (excluding admission
of observers and development of a
draft MOU)
Item 8: Adoption of the report
Consideration of the outcomes of the
contact groups and draft decisions
Item 9: Adoption of the report
Adoption of budget and other BC
COP decisions
Adoption of budget and other RC
COP decisions
Adoption of budget and other SC
COP decisions
BC Item 9; RC Item 10; SC Item
10: Closure of the meeting
Basel Convention Conference of the Parties (BC COP)
Rotterdam Convention Conference of the Parties (RC COP)
Stockholm Convention Conference of the Parties (SC COP)
Joint sessions of the meetings of the conferences of the parties
Report of joint and convention-specific contact and other groups
15
Possible contact and other groups at the meetings of the conferences
of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in
May 2015
The following contact and other groups have been tentatively identified by the bureaux during their
deliberations on the matter at their joint meeting on 11-12 November 2014. These suggested groups
may be established during the two-week meetings, with the understanding that they do not have to
work simultaneously and that some of them may be short-lived. The total number of groups meeting at
any one time would need to be limited to ensure that there is adequate opportunity for the interests of
all delegations to be factored into the discussions.
1)
Joint contact and other groups:

Joint contact group on technical assistance and financial resources/mechanisms
- This group could start its work as early as Monday, 4 May 2015 and meet as needed
throughout the two-week period. It is not expected to meet every day, but during allocated
timeslots, as decided upon by the bureaux of the conferences of the parties in consultation
with the co-chairs of the contact group.
- This group is to complete its work on convention-specific issues during the timeframe of
each Conference of the Parties according to the following schedule:
o Stockholm Convention: by closure of business on Thursday, 7 May 2015;
o Basel Convention: by closure of business on Monday, 11 May 2015;
o Rotterdam Convention: by close of business on Wednesday, 13 May 2015.
 Joint contact group on programme of work and budget
 Joint friends-of-the-presidents group on the terms of reference for the review of the synergies
arrangements
- The two groups on programme of work and budget and on the terms of reference for the
review of the synergies arrangements could start their work on Tuesday, 5 May 2015 and
meet as needed throughout the two-week period. The budget group is expected to meet
less often the first week and more often the second week.
- These two groups are to complete their work not later than by close of business on
Thursday, 14 May 2015.
2)
Stockholm Convention-specific contact and other groups:
 Friends-of-the-President group on compliance
- This group could start its work as early as Tuesday, 5 May 2015. The schedule of its work
is to be determined.
 Contact group on listing of chemicals
-
3)
This group could start its work on Tuesday, 5 May 2015 and complete it by close of
business on Thursday, 7 May 2015.
Basel Convention-specific contact and other groups:
 Contact group on technical matters
- This group could start its work on Monday, 4 May 2015 to address the technical
guidelines on POPs wastes.
- The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention is expected to add other mandates
to the group after having considered the other technical matters on its agenda on Friday, 8
May 2015.
 Contact group on strategic matters
- This group could start its work on Friday, 8 May 2015.
 Contact group on compliance and legal matters
- This group could start its work on Saturday, 9 May 2015.
These groups are to complete their work by close of business on Monday, 11 May 2015.
16
4)
Rotterdam Convention-specific contact and other groups:
 Friends-of-the-President group on compliance
- This group could start its work as early as Tuesday, 5 May 2015. The schedule of its work
is to be determined.
 Contact group on chemicals for inclusion in Annex III
- This group could start its work on Tuesday, 12 May 2015 and complete it by close of
business on Wednesday, 13 May 2015.
____________________
17