On 28 November 2003, the Parties to the Water Convention adopted amendments to articles 25 and 26 of the Convention by decision III/1, following a proposal by the Government of Switzerland, to allow States situated outside the UNECE region to become Parties to the Convention.
The amendments have been ratified by 12 Parties. They will enter into force with 23 ratifications. Nevertheless, the Meeting of the Parties will not consider any request for accession by States outside the UNECE until the amendments have entered into force for all the States and organizations that were Parties to the Convention when they were adopted.