Expert Group on Public Participation
Working Group of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention
The Working Group was set up by the Meeting of the Parties at its first session (October 2002) by virtue of decision I/14 (E F R). The Working Group is established to oversee the implementation of the work programme and furthermore to prepare the meetings of the Parties; oversee and direct the activities of subsidiary bodies established by the Meeting of the Parties; keep under review the need for amending the Convention; make such proposals and recommendations to the Meeting of the Parties as it considers necessary for the achievement of the purposes of the Convention; and undertake any other duties as requested by the Meeting of the Parties. It is the officers and the Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties who serve also as officers and Bureau for the Working Group.
Eleventh meeting of the Working Group
The eleventh meeting of the Working Group will take place from 8 to 10 July 2009 in Geneva. The Working Group will focus on the follow-up to the third session of the Meeting of the Parties and other relevant topics for the inter-sessional period.
The Working Group is expected to consider a draft decision on the terms of reference for a future task force on public participation in decision-making, taking into account the comments from the Ad-hoc Expert Group on Public Participation. It is also expected to consider a draft decision on the establishment of an expert group on strategic communications, as well as a draft proposal on financial arrangements. The Working Group will also be invited to consider a discussion paper on national reporting and a draft revision of the format for national reporting on implementation, to incorporate reporting on implementation of the amendment to the Convention.
The Working Group is further expected to review reports on ongoing work in the areas of access to justice, capacity-building, genetically modified organisms, electronic information tools and the clearinghouse-mechanism.
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Provisional agenda for the eleventh meeting
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/1 |
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FRE |
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Provisional timetable for the eleventh meeting
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Report of the eleventh meeting of the Working Group of the Parties
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/2 |
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Proposal for terms of reference for a task force on public participation
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/L.1 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Draft revised reporting format
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/L.2 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Informal discussion paper on financial arrangements |
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ENG |
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Draft procedure for developing a communications strategy
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/L.4 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Report on expert meeting on genetically modified organisms
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/3 |
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RUS |
Report of the task force on electronic information tools
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/4 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Report on workshop on access to justice
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/5 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Discussion paper on national reporting mechanism
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/6 |
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ENG |
FRE |
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Report on capacity-building
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/7 |
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ENG |
FRE |
RUS |
Report on implementation of the work programme 2006-2008, including financial reporting on 2008
ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2009/8 |
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List of Participants |
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Tenth meeting of the Working Group
The tenth meeting of the Working Group took place from 8 to 10 June 2008 in Riga, Latvia. The Working Group conducted final preparatory negotiations regarding the documents that would be discussed during the third session of the Meeting of the Parties.
The Working Group focused on outstanding issues with respect to draft decisions on
the conditions for entry into force of amendments,
public participation in international forums, access to justice, electronic information tools and the clearinghouse-mechanism, financial arrangements, a new strategic plan and the draft “Riga Declaration”.
The secretariat presented the synthesis report on the status of implementation. The Working Group took note of the report and considered implications for the discussion of the report by the Meeting of the Parties.
The Working Group also reviewed the report of the Compliance Committee to the Meeting of the Parties, including the addenda containing findings and in some cases recommendations with respect to compliance by specific Parties.
The Chairperson of the Working Group presented draft decisions on reporting requirements and on the work programme for 2009–2011, prepared by the Bureau, as well as draft decisions on general issues of compliance and on compliance by specific Parties. The Working Group reviewed these draft decisions, revised them as necessary, and forwarded them for consideration by the Meeting of the Parties.
The Working Group also reviewed the status of nominations for election to the Compliance Committee.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the tenth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/6) |
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| Report of the tenth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/7) |
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Ninth meeting of the Working Group
The ninth meeting of the Working Group took place from 13 to 15 February 2008 in Geneva. The Working Group reviewed a new draft long-term strategic plan for future consideration by the Meeting of the Parties, as well as draft decisions on conditions for entry into force of amendments, public participation in international forums, access to justice, electronic information tools and the clearinghouse-mechanism and financial arrangements. The Working Group discussed and/or revised the draft decisions and forwarded them for future consideration by the Meeting of the Parties, inviting written comments for several draft decisions prior to forwarding them.
The Working Group also reviewed the preparations for an international expert meeting on access to information, public participation and access to justice in the field of genetically modified organisms, scheduled to take place in Germany immediately following the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol. In addition, the Working Group continued its discussion of elements for the third Meeting of the Parties, scheduled for 11-13 June 2008, in Riga, Latvia.
Documents for the ninth meeting
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the ninth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/1) |
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| Provisional timetable for the ninth meeting |
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| Report of the ninth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/2) |
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| Draft provisional agenda for MOP-3 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.1) |
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| Draft Riga Declaration (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.2) |
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| Draft statement for special session on the Protocol on PRTRs (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.3) |
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| Draft decision on conditions for entry into force of the amendment on GMOs (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.4) |
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| Comments from UNOLA on the draft decision on conditions for entry into force of the amendment on GMOs (ECE/EHLM/NONE/2008/1) |
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| Report of the third meeting of the task force on public participation in international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/3) |
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| Draft decision on public participation in international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.5) |
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| Draft decision on access to justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.6) |
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| Report of the task force on electronic information tools (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/4) |
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| Draft decision on electronic information tools (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.7) |
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| Report of the workshop on public participation in strategic decision-making (PPSD) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/5) |
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| Summary report on PPSD workshop prepared by Austria |
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| Draft decision on long-term strategic plan (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2008/L.8) |
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| List of Participants |
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Eighth meeting of the Working Group
The eighth meeting of the Working Group took place on 31 October to 2 November 2007 in Geneva. The meeting reviewed a draft of a long-term strategic plan and invited written comments from delegations to revise it as necessary, and discussed a draft decision on financial arrangements for future consideration by the Meeting of the Parties.
The secretariat reported on the implementation of capacity-building activities since the previous meeting.
The Working Group also took note of the preparations for the workshop on public participation in strategic decision-making scheduled to take place in Sofia in December 2007 and had a first discussion of elements for the third Meeting of the Parties, scheduled for 11-13 June 2008, in Riga, Lativa.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the eighth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/4) |
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| Report of the eighth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/5) |
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| Report of representatives of international forums dealing with matters related to the environment (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.8) |
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| (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.9) - Cancelled |
Document cancelled |
| Report of the 2nd meeting of the task force on access to justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.10) |
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| Report of the workshop for high-level judiciary on access to justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.11) |
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| Draft long-term strategic plan (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.12) |
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| Secretariat's note on draft long-term strategic plan (English only) |
word |
n/a |
| Draft decision on financial arrangements (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.13) |
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| Elements for the provisional agenda of the 3rd Meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.14) |
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| Draft programme for the mini-conference "Agenda 21 and the Information Society" (English only) |
word |
n/a |
| Provisional agenda for the sixth meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools |
word |
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| List of Participants |
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Seventh meeting of the Working Group
The meeting took place 2-4 May 2007 in Geneva. You can find the official documents for the meeting in the table below.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the seventh meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/1) |
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| Report of the seventh meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/2) |
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| Report on the second meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.1) |
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| Report on the second meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums: Corrigendum (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.1/CORR.1) |
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n/a |
n/a |
| Synthesis Paper on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2) |
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| Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Rules, procedures and practices on Access to Justice) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.1) |
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| Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Rules, procedures and practices on Public Participation) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.2) |
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| Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Current and Future workplans) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.3) |
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| Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Challenges) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.4) |
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| Addendum to the Synthesis Paper (Comments on Almaty guidelines) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.2/Add.5) |
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| Report of the fifth meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.3) |
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| Addendum to the Report of Task Force on Electronic Information Tools (Questionnaire on implementation of Decision II/3) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.3/Add.1) |
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| Addendum to the Report of Task Force on Electronic Information Tools (Summary of Responses to Questionnaire) (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.3/Add.2) |
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| Guidance on Implementation of reporting requirements for the 3rd meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.4) |
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| Capacity-building activities (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.5) |
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| Financial arrangements (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.6) |
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| Financial Report for 2006 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2007/L.7) |
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| List of Participants |
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Sixth meeting of the Working Group
The meeting took place on 5-7 April 2006 in Geneva. You can find the official documents for the meeting in the table below. Unofficial documents and presentations follow this table.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the sixth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the sixth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Work plan, including plan of consultation on the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums - as adopted (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/2/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| List of international forums - as adopted (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/2/Add.2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the 1st meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/3) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft work plan, including plan of consultation on the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/3/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft list of international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/3/Add.2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the 1st meeting of the Task Force on Access to Justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/4) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the 4th meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/5) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft guidance for national nodes of the clearinghouse mechanism (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/5/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Proposed actions in the field of public participation in strategic decision-making (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/6) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report on capacity-building activities (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/7) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Financial report for 2005 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/8) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Breakdown of expected expenditures and income with provisional list of meetings under the work programme 2006-2008 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/9) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Procedure for preparing long-term strategic plan (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2006/10) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| List of Participants |
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In addition to the official documents, the following unofficial documents and presentations have been prepared for the meeting:
The Note from the Secretariat on Operational Aspects of the Work Plan, including Plan of consultation
on the application of the Principles of the Convention in international forums
Informal
corrigendum of Annex I to the Breakdown of Expected Expenditures and Income with Provisional List of
Meetings under the Work Programme for 2006-2008
Aarhus Clearinghouse Progress Report (ppt) and
Aarhus Clearinghouse Capacity Building (ppt)
Fifth meeting of the Working Group
The fifth meeting of the Working Group took place on 22- 23 May 2005 in Almaty prior
to the Second meeting of the Parties. You can download the agenda for the meeting in
English,
French
or Russian.
Fourth meeting of the Working Group
The fourth meeting of the Working Group took place on 1-4 February 2005 in Geneva. You
can download copies of the documents from the table below.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| List of participants |
word |
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| Provisional
agenda for the fourth meeting (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the
fourth meeting of the Working Group of the Parties
(ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Agenda
for the 2nd meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/3) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Addendum: Organisational
issues for the 2nd meeting of the Parties (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/3/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft
Declaration (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/4) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report
of the 4th meeting of the Working Group on GMOs
(MP.PP/AC.2/2004/4) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Decision on GMOs (MP.PP/AC.2/2004/4/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the 3rd meeting of the Task Force on Access to Justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/5) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft decision and recommendations on Access to Justice (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/5/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Alternative text for recommendation on Access to Justice decision (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/6) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Decision on Electronic Information Tools (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/7) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the 2nd meeting of the Expert Group on Public Participation in International Forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/8) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft guidelines on the public participation in international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/8/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Note on draft guidelines on the public participation in international forums (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/8/Add.2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report on Implementation of the Work programme (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/9) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Decision on Work Programme for 2006-2008 (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/10) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Decision on Long-Term Programme of Work (ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/11) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Decision on accession of non-ECE member States
(ECE/MP.PP/WG.1/2005/12) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
Third meeting of the Working Group
The third meeting of the Working Group took place on 1-3 November 2004 in Geneva. You
can download copies of the documents from the table below.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the third meeting (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/8) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the third meeting of the Working Group of the Parties (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/9) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft Agenda for the 2nd meeting of the Parties (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/10) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the third meeting of the Task Force on Electronic Information Tools (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/12) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft decision on Electronic Information Tools (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/12/Add.1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the first meeting of the Expert Group on the public participation in international forums (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/13) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft decision on Financial Arrangements (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/14) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Draft decision on the Work programme for 2006-2008 (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/15) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Strategic Planning for the Convention (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/16) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
Second meeting of the Working Group
The second meeting of the Working Group took place on 3-4 May 2004 in Geneva.
You can download official documents for this meeting from the table below.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the second meeting (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the second meeting (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Sharing information and experience on public participation in strategic decision-making (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/5) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Overview of contributions and expeditures 2003 (MP.PP/WG.1/2004/6) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
First meeting of the Working Group
The first meeting of the Working Group took place on 3-4 May 2004 in Geneva. You can download official documents for this meeting from the table below.
| Title |
English |
Français |
Русский |
| Provisional agenda for the first meeting (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/1) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the first meeting (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/2) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the first meeting of the task force on access to justice (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/3) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Report of the first meeting of the task force onelectronic information tools (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/4) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Public participation in strategic decision-making (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/5) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Public participation in international fora (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/6) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |
| Assessment and prioritization of extrabudgetary activities in the 2004-2005 work programme (MP.PP/WG.1/2003/7) |
pdf |
pdf |
pdf |