UNITED NATIONS Distr. GENERAL TRADE/CEFACT/1997/GE.2/2 30 June 1997 Original : ENGLISH ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE COMMITTEE FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT Centre for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT) Meeting of Experts on Procedures and Documentation (Fifty-sixth session, 16-17 September 1997) PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION to be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, starting at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 16 September 1997 1. Adoption of the agenda TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/2 2. Issues related to migration to CEFACT 3. Analysis of the International Trade TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/3 Transaction (ITT) 4. Implementation of ECE/FAL Recommendations (a) Recommendation No.4 "National Trade TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/4 Facilitation Organizations" (d) Recommendation No.16 "UN/LOCODE - Code TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/5 for Ports and other locations" (e) Recommendation No.18 "Facilitation measures related to international trade procedures" 5. Revision of the Kyoto Convention TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/6 GE.97- 6. Trade documents names and functions 7. Aligned forms and the Trade Data Elements TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/7 Directory (UNTDED) TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/8 8. Legal/commercial aspects of trade TRADE/CEFACT/1997/11 facilitation 9. Any other business 10. Adoption of the Report of the fifty-sixth session * * * EXPLANATORY NOTES TO THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA Introduction 1. The provisional agenda for the fifty-sixth session of the Meeting of Experts on Procedures and Documentation (GE.2) has been established in accordance with decisions taken by the Meeting at its forty-fifth session in March 1997. 2. The provisional timetable presented below has been proposed by the Steering Group for the second session of the Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT). The timetable is only indicative. The Report of the second CEFACT session will be approved during the first half of the afternoon session on Wednesday, 17 September 1997. It is expected that the experts of GE.1 and GE.2 will have a joint session on legal issues in the second half of the afternoon of Thursday, 18 September 1997. The Reports of the sessions of GE.1 and GE.2, as well as of their joint session will be approved during the afternoon session on Friday, 19 September 1997. The CEFACT Steering Group will convene meetings in the mornings of 15 and 19 of September 1997. a.m. p.m. Monday 15 September 1997 CSG CEFACT Tuesday 16 September 1997 CEFACT GE.2 Wednesday 17 September 1997 GE.2 CEFACT/GE.1 Thursday 18 September 1997 GE.1 GE.1/GE.1-GE.2 Friday 19 September 1997 CSG GE.1/GE.2 3. The second CEFACT session will begin at 15:00 on Monday, 15 September 1997 to discuss agenda items and migration to CEFACT as well as outstanding GE.1 and GE.2 work items. Item 1 - Adoption of the agenda 2. In accordance with the Commission's Rules of Procedures, the first item on the provisional agenda (document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/2) is the adoption of the agenda. Item 2 - Issues related to migration to CEFACT 3. The Meeting of Experts will discuss the migration of those work items under its responsibility to the new CEFACT structures. Item 3 - Analysis of the International Trade Transaction (ITT) 4. Document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/3 is the report by the group for the International Trade Transaction (ITT) on activities since the 55th session of GE.2. Item 4 - Implementation of ECE/FAL Recommendations 5. The Meeting of Experts considers during its sessions the questions of the implementation of specific measures falling under the respective programme items of work. (a) Recommendation No. 4 "National Trade Facilitation Organizations" 6. To encourage a discussion on the development of national and regional committees on facilitation of international trade procedures and the revision of Recommendation No.4, the secretariat has amended the list of existing committees and focal points (document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/4). (d) Recommendation No. 16 "UN/LOCODE - Code for Ports and other locations 7. Document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/5 is an interim report of the ad hoc CEFACT Working Group on UN/LOCODE analysing the problems which users are experiencing with the UN/LOCODE and identifying areas where changes may be required to meet the needs identified by users. (e) Recommendation No.18 "Facilitation measures related to international trade procedures" 8. Delegations will report on the activities in respect of WP.4/Recommendation No.18. Item 5 - Revision of the Kyoto Convention 9. Document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/6 is a position paper on the subject, prepared by the secretariat, defining the role of CEFACT in the revision of this Convention. Item 6 - Trade documents names and functions 10. At the previous sessions, it was agreed to revert to this subject after the finalization of the WP.4 re-engineering process. Item 7 - Aligned forms and the Trade Data Elements Directory (UNTDED) 11. Document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/7, a form of the Despatch Avice, and document TRADE/CEFACT/GE.2/1997/8, a form of Documentary Credit Application, are inputs by the delegation of Romania. Item 8 - Legal and commercial aspects of trade facilitation 12. Document TRADE/CEFACT/1997/11 contains the report from the Legal Rapporteurs. This document is for information and discussion. Item 9 - Other business 13. At the time of writing, the secretariat has no points to propose under this item. Item 10 - Adoption of the Report of the fifty-sixth session 14. In accordance with established practice, the Meeting of Experts will adopt the Report of its fifty-sixth session in the form of a summary, prepared by the secretariat, of decisions taken during the session, to be presented to the CEFACT for approval. _________________________