2-4

Steering Body to the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP)
Focal point: Henning Wuester, Tel: 917 23 63

Review progress in implementing the 2002 work plan, in particular with respect to modelling and monitoring of fine particles; prepare a work plan for 2003 to provide the scientific basis for negotiations on the review of protocols under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution; discuss the plans for monitoring and modelling of hemispheric air pollution problems. Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/emep/welcome.html

Working Group on Civil Liability and Industrial Accidents
Focal points: Rainer Enderlein, Tel: 917 23 73 & Serge Ludwiczak, Tel: 917 31 74

At its fourth meeting, the Working Group will continue its work on the legally binding instrument on liability and compensation for damage resulting from the transboundary effects of industrial accidents on transboundary waters. The Working Group will review and complete the draft text deriving from its third meeting, including the annexes.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/civil-liability/welcome.html

Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics
Focal points: Helmut Lehmacher, Tel: 917 24 34, and Miodrag Pesut, Tel: 917 41 36

The Working Party will discuss, among other items, development of Pan-European Transport Corridors and Areas, Euro-Asian transport links, methodologies for transport projects appraisal, etc. Documents are available at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp5/wp5doc_2002.html

4
(3 p.m.)

Briefing by Executive Secretary to Missions
Focal point: Susan Bartolo, Tel: 917 14 69

Room C-3.

Drafting Group on Environmental Education
Focal point: Ella Behlyarova, Tel: 917 23 76

The Drafting Group on Environmental Education, which was established by the Working Group of Senior Officials, will begin drafting a strategy on environment and education for the May 2003 Kiev Conference.

9-11
Sofia, Bulgaria

UNECE/UNDP Sub-regional Workshop on Standard Statistical Indicators for National Human Development Reports in South-east Europe, Western CIS, and Russia
Focal point: Focal point:Focal point: Jean-Etienne Chapron, Tel: 917 15 86

The workshop is part of the UNDP-funded project on Human Development Statistics and Social Trends Reporting in Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS. The expected outcome is the validation of a standard set of statistical indicators for national human development reports.

9-13

UN/CEFACT Business and Technical Standards Forum, Inaugural Meeting
Focal point: Mika Vepslinen, Tel: 917 31 97

The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) will convene its first meeting of the UN/CEFACT Forum at the Palais des Nations. This week-long meeting brings together all UN/CEFACT groups as a single body in a new structure to facilitate the advancement of global trade facilitation and eBusiness standards. UN/CEFACT is a key group in the international development and maintenance of global standards for trade facilitation and eBusiness.

Five core groups form the new structure: International Trade and Business Processes Group (TBG); Applied Technologies Group (ATG); Information Content Management Group (ICG); Legal Group (LG); Techniques and Methodologies Group (TMG).

Participation in the work of UN/CEFACT is open to individuals and organizations seeking to advance and help create the future of global trade facilitation and eBusiness standards. For diplomatic missions in Geneva wishing to have an overview of the work planned and undertaken it may be useful to attend the plenary sessions on Monday morning (from 10:00 to 13:00) and on Friday (from 12:00 to 15:00).

Further information and details can be found on the Internet at: http://www.unece.org/cefact/

9-13

Joint Meeting of the RID Safety Committee and the ECE Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
Focal point: Olivier Kervella, Tel: 917 24 56

Consideration of proposals of amendments to RID, ADR, ADN.
Consideration of European (EN) standards and ISO standards for incorporation by reference into RID, ADR, ADN provided they comply with the safety level required by RID, ADR, ADN.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/ac1/ac1age.html

11-13
Berlin, Germany

ECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing
Focal point: Nikolai Botev, Tel: 917 13 24

The Ministerial Conference on Ageing will adopt two documents - the Berlin Ministerial Declaration: A Society for all Ages in the UNECE Region and the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan on Ageing 2002. The draft documents are available at http://www.unece.org/ead/ead_h.htm. The last round of negotiations on the pending texts of the two documents will take place at the fifth meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group in Berlin just prior to the Conference.

11-13

Implementation Committee under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
Focal point: Henning Wuester, Tel: 917 23 63

Review compliance by Parties with their obligations under the Protocols to the Convention, in particular, prepare recommendations regarding cases dealing with the obligation to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds; prepare an in-depth review of compliance by Parties with their obligations under the 1994 Sulphur Protocol; and review compliance with reporting obligations.

12

Working Group of Senior Officials "Environment for Europe" Drafting Group
Focal point: Mikhail Kokine, Tel: 917 23 47

The Drafting Group was established by the UNECE Working Group of Senior Officials "Environment for Europe" (EfE) to begin drafting proposals for the May 2003 Kiev Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" on the future of the EfE process, including issues both of substance and or governance at the regional level.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/efe/welcome.html

13

Executive Committee of the Working Group of Senior Officials "Environment for Europe"
Focal point: Mary Pat Silveira, Tel: 917 13 15

The Executive Committee will review progress in a number of substantive issues under preparation for the Kiev Ministerial Conference, including the G12 Environment Strategy; water, environment and security in Central Asia; and environment and education, among others. It will also consider several organizational questions for the Kiev Conference, including matters regarding participation, documentation and the organization of work.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/efe/welcome.html

12-14
Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland

Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee on Forest Technology, Management and Training
Focal point: Jorge Najera, Tel: 917 32 40

At its biennial session the Joint Committee will discuss successful safety and health campaigns for forest workers, best practices in forestry contracting, its contribution to the international dialogue on forests and relations with other organizations and will adopt its programme of work.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/docs/jc-sessions/jc-24/jc-24.htm

15-19
Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland

Seminar on Afforestation in the Context of Sustainable Forest Management
Focal point: Jorge Najera, Tel: 917 32 40

The objective of the International Seminar is to discuss best practice which ensures that afforestation proceeds in accordance with sustainable forest management. Given the nature of afforestation as a major change in land use, the activity impacts greatly on the site and its surroundings. It also has wider implications in relation to national and regional strategic planning, local and site planning and operational aspects.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/docs/jc-sem/sem-54/sem-54.htm

16-17

Working Group on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers
Focal point: Jeremy Wates, Tel: 917 23 84

The Aarhus Convention Working Group on PRTRs will continue the negotiations on a draft protocol on PRTR to be adopted and signed at the fifth Ministerial Environment for Europe Conference in Kiev, May 2003. A contact group will meet on 18 September to discuss the annexes to the Convention. The PRTR drafting group will meet on 18-20 September.
Web site: www.unece.org/env/pp/prtr.htm

16-18

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Focal point: Christina von Schweinichen,
Tel: 917 23 88

Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/hs/chs/63rdsession.htm

16-18

Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear
Focal point: Juan Ramos Garca, Tel: 917 19 98

The 52nd session of GRRF, a subsidiary body of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, is scheduled to continue consideration of a range of items proposed to improve regulatory provisions concerning vehicle braking, handling and stability, steering, and tyres. Worldwide harmonization of these regulatory provisions will also be considered. The proposals, listed in the agenda, refer to all categories of vehicles, including also motorcycles, agricultural tractors and electric vehicles. Web site: select GRRF in http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

18-20
Strasbourg, France

18-20

Working Group on Strategies and Review (under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution)
Focal point: Henning Wuester, Tel: 917 23 63

Prepare a draft protocol and/or a draft decision on the financing of the core activities under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution not covered by EMEP; prepare for the review of the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone, the Protocol on Heavy Metals and the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); and review progress in exchange of abatement technologies.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/WorkingGroups/wgs/welcome.html

19-20

Working Party on Noise (GRB)
Focal point: Romain Hubert, Tel: 917 24 02

The 37th session of GRB is scheduled to consider several items proposed to improve regulatory provisions concerning the noise emissions of wheeled vehicle engines. A new draft regulation relating to the tyre rolling sound emission will also be considered. Web site: select GRB in http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

19-20
Rome, Italy

UNECE-Real Estate Advisory Group meeting - The EuropeanReal Estate Summit: Land for Development
Focal points: Gianluca Sambucini, Tel: 917 11 75 & Emily Talmon-l'Armee, Tel. 917 39 71

The Land for Development Programme aims to improve land policy in transition economies for economic and social development, poverty alleviation and sustainability. The conference goals are:

1) to establish a pan-European network of government officials, international experts, and private sector representatives to develop land policies and foster cooperation and experience sharing;

2) to develop partnerships between the public and private sector which will stimulate coherent development of real estate markets in transition countries;

3) to discuss and publish the results of a base-line survey on the real estate markets of the 25 countries participating in the conference;

4) to develop practical projects formulated at the Summit meeting, as demonstrations of concrete steps forward in the Land for Development Programme.
Web site: http://www.un-reag.org/

23-25 (a.m.)

Work Session on Gender Statistics
Focal point: Tiina Luige, Tel: 917 10 97

The meeting will discuss: (i) Gender differences as the consequence of macro-economic changes and policy decisions; use of business surveys and registers to measure gender dimensions in economic development; (ii) Gender equality indicators at national, regional and local levels; identification of a gender perspective in statistics, common efforts of statisticians and policy makers; (iii) Attitudes, norms and values as factors in changes of gender inequality, related measurement and methodological issues; (iv) Balancing work and family responsibilities in different life-cycle positions; time-use, labour force and other surveys as relevant monitoring vehicles. Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2002.09.gender.htm

23-26

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety
Focal points: Marie-Nolle Poirier, Tel: 917 32 59 & Christopher Smith, Tel: 917 32 98

The 39^th session of WP.1 will continue its consideration of the proposed amendments to the Vienna Conventions and European Agreements on road traffic and on road signs and signals, as well as the revision of the consolidated resolutions on road traffic (R.E.1) and on road signs and signals (R.E.2). Within this framework, WP.1 will examine in particular issues related to mobile phone use, definitions of mopeds and motorcycles, behaviour at pedestrian crossings, driving permits, the placement of distinguishing signs and the relevant recommendations of Ad hoc Group of Experts on safety tunnel to be included into the above legal instruments. WP.1 also has to define the theme of the Fourth Road Safety Week which will be held in 2004 and examine the draft resolution relating to it in order to be submitted for adoption to the ITC in February 2003. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/roadsafe/wp12002.html

23-27
Ohrid,
The former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia

Ad Hoc Working Group on the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment
Focal point: Wiek Schrage, Tel: 917 24 48

Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/eia/

24
(2 p.m.)

Briefing to Missions (Timber Committee)
Focal point: Kit Prins, Tel: 917 28 74

On the occasion of the 60th session of the Committee a briefing to Missions is being organized. Further information will be included in individual invitations to be sent.

24-27

TIMBER COMMITTEE
Focal point: Kit Prins, Tel: 917 28 74

On the occasion of its 60th session the Committee will hold a seminar on the theme "Innovative uses of wood". It will review market developments in 2002 and prospects for 2003, discuss the strengthening of ECE and its contribution to ECE cross-sectoral work and adopt its programme of work for 2003 to 2006. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/docs/tc-60/tc-60.htm

25 (p.m.)-26

ECE/UNDP Task Force on the Gender Statistics Web site for Europe and North America
Focal point: Tiina Luige, Tel: 917 10 97

The meeting will discuss the gender statistics web site for Europe and North America - improvements to the web site contents and priorities for its future development.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/gender/web/

26-27
Copenhagen, Denmark

UN/CEFACT Legal Group
Focal point: Mario Apostolov, Tel: 917 11 34

The meeting will work on a draft recommendation on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and a deliverable on the legal aspects of ebXML, a new global standard for electronic business.

30

Advisory Group on the Protection and Implementation of Intellectual Property Rights for Investment
Focal point: Andrei Maevski, Tel: 917 32 96

The 4^th annual session will review the progress in the implementation of the support projects undertaken by the AG and approve a new work programme for 2002/2003. Web sites: http://www.unece.org/operact/ag3.htm and http://www.unece-ipr.org

30 (p.m.)-
4 Oct.

Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE)
Focal point: Romain Hubert, Tel: 917 24 02

During its 49th session, GRE will consider a range of items proposed to improve regulatory provisions concerning the lighting and light-signalling devices of wheeled vehicles. Web site: select GRE in http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm