31 March-
1 April

Moscow

Workshop on "Transboundary Water Cooperation in the EECCA"
Focal point: Bo Libert,
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 23 96

The Workshop is organized jointly by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry for Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, UNEP/ROE, the NGO ECOTERRA and UNECE.
It will develop background material and recommendations for the improvement of cooperation on transboundary waters in the EECCA region (Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia) according to the principles of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/water/

31 March-2 April

Consultation on European Comparison Programme
Focal point: Tihomira Dimova,
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 19 06

The Consultation will discuss the results of 2000 rounds of comparisons within the ECE region. It will also review the preparation of the global 2004 ICP round and recent methodological developments.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2003.03.ecp.htm

31 March-3 April

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety
Focal points: Marie-Nolle Poirier,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 59
& Christopher Smith,
Tel. +41 (0) 22 917 32 98

The Working Party will continue examination of proposals to amend the Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic and on Road Signs and Signals and the European Agreements supplementing them. It will also discuss the Fourth Road Safety Week in the UNECE Region (5-11 April 2004) and the issue of security and transport. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/roadsafe/wp1age.html

1
(3 p.m.)

Briefing by Executive Secretary to Missions
Focal point: Susan Bartolo,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 14 69

1-3
Paris

Seminar on Analysis, Methodology of Treatment and Remediation of Contaminated Soils and Groundwater
Focal point: Catherine Masson,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 56

Web site: http://www.unece.org/operact/intersol/

3-4

Ad Hoc Preparatory Working Group of Senior Officials "Environment for Europe"
Focal points: Mary Pat Silveira,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 13 15
& Ella Behlyarova,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 76

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

3-4
Paris

Expert Group on Techno-economic Issues (EGTEI) under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
Focal point: Brinda Wachs,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 52

The first day of this meeting is a Workshop on the methodology and use of a techno-economic database on control technologies for air pollution abatement and their costs. The second day is the Steering Group of EGTEI, where national experts will report on progress made on providing cost data for abatement technologies used in integrated assessment modelling under the Convention. Web site: http://citepa.org/forums/egtei/egtei_index.htm

7

Workshop on Trade, Business and Investment in a Wider Europe
Focal point: Lorenza Jachia,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 55 93

Room XX.
The meeting will address the issue of integration in the UNECE region, and the effect of EU enlargement on existing trade and investment networks. Discussion will focus on the impact on the enlargement process on the "new neighbours" of the European Union, in particular Western CIS and Russia. An important topic will be the approximation and mutual recognition of standards and technical regulations, and the contribution that UNECE is making to a common basis for trade in goods and services.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/workshop/wrkshop_h.htm

7-9
Luxembourg

ECE/Eurostat Work Session on Statistical Data Confidentiality
Focal point: Juraj Riecan,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 33 28

Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2003.04.confidentiality.htm

7-11

Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling
Focal point: Romain Hubert,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 02

As subsidiary body to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), GRE will resume during its 50th session the consideration on a range of items proposed to improve regulatory provisions concerning the lighting and light-signalling devices of wheeled vehicles. GRE will consider, amongst others, proposals on adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS), emergency brake lighting, as well as a proposal for a global technical regulation (gtr) concerning the installation requirements for lighting and light-signalling devices. Web site: select GRE in http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

9-11

Working Group on Genetically Modified Organisms
Focal point: Jeremy Wates,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 84

The Working Group on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) was established by the Parties to the Aarhus Convention at their first meeting (21-23 October 2002). According to the decision by the Parties (I/4), the Working Group should examine and build upon the preparatory work undertaken by the Working Group on GMOs which was established by the Committee on Environmental Policy and which developed the Guidelines on access to information, public participation and access to justice with respect to genetically modified organisms, adopted by the Meeting of the Parties. The task of the Working Group is inter alia to explore the options for a legally binding approach to further developing the application of the Convention in the field of GMOs. The Working Group should prepare selected options for consideration and possible adoption by the Parties at their second meeting. At its first meeting, the Working Group is expected to consider how it intends to discharge of its mandate and to start identifying appropriate options to prepare for the Meeting of the Parties. Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/gmo.htm

9-11
London

Workshop on a Communications Strategy for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
Focal point: Brinda Wachs,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 52

This is a two-day Workshop charged with developing a strategy for enhancing the communication and visibility of the objectives and achievements of the Convention among its contracting Parties, policy-makers, the media and civil society.

9-11
Tbilisi

Workshop on Waste Classifications and Inventories
Focal point: Mikhail Kokine,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 47

Organized for the three Caucasian Republics under the UNECE/EEA Grant Agreement on Support to the UNECE Working Group on Environmental Monitoring.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/europe/

9-11
Valencia, Spain

Task Force on Measurements and Modelling under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (4th meeting)
Focal point: Henning Wuester,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 63

The Task Force will review a draft monitoring strategy for Europe and examine the progress in the preparation of the EMEP Assessment Report, which evaluates measurements collected over the past 20 years. The Task Force will also review the progress in atmospheric dispersion modelling work, in particular discussing the modelling of ozone formation in the Mediterranean and the links between regional and urban air pollution.
Web site: http://www.nilu.no/projects/ccc/tfmm/

10-11

THE PEP Steering Committee
Focal point: Tea Aulavuo,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 17 23

The Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) was adopted at the second High-level Meeting on Transport, Environment and Health (July 2002), to focus the joint efforts of the UNECE and the WHO/Euro on a few selected priority areas. THE PEP Steering Committee, composed of representatives from the three sectors and serviced jointly by the UNECE and WHO/Euro secretariats, was established for the implementation of the Programme.

At its first session, THE PEP Steering Committee will discuss the implementation of the following priority activities: (1) Establishment of a web-based Clearing House on Transport, Environment and Health, for disseminating information, good practices and capacity building; (2) Elaboration and implementation of urban plans for transport sustainable for health and the environment; (3) Transport related health impacts and their costs, with particular focus on children; (4) Establishment of indicators to monitor the integration of environmental and health aspects into transport policies and the impact of these policies on health and the environment.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/thepep/

14-15

Working Party on Combined Transport
Focal point: Poul Hansen,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 58

The thirty-ninth session of WP.24 will, amongst others, consider the application of the European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC), issues concerning multimodal cargo liability and the role of railways in promoting combined transport. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/bcf/welcome.html

15-19
Antalya, Turkey

[to be postponed]

Conference on Forest Fire Management and International Cooperation in Fire Emergencies in the Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and Adjoining Regions of the Near East and Central Asia
Focal point: Jorge Najera,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 40

The UNECE secretariat in agreement with the Government of Turkey, the General Directorate of Forestry, have decided to postpone the Conference to spring 2004, due to the present political tensions in the region.

23

Workshop on Policy and Regulatory Options for Promoting Industrial Restructuring in the ECE Region
Focal point: Iouri Adjoubei,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 88

The Workshop will focus on developing efficient government policy and institutions conducive to restructuring uncompetitive industries in transition economies of the region. It is expected that the exchange of experts' views will contribute to elaborating recommendations to Governments.

24

Conference on Innovation as a Vehicle for Industrial Restructuring
Focal point: Iouri Adjoubei,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 88

The Conference will discuss the role of new emerging economic sectors, technologies and business models in industrial restructuring of transition economies.

24-25

Expert Group Meeting on Knowledge Economy Assessment
Focal point: D.W.Choi
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 74

This expert group meeting aims to take stock of existing analytical work on knowledge economy assessment of major international organizations and discuss a new set of benchmarking indicators on policy, regulations and statistics for UNECE Knowledge Economy Development Report 2003-2004 in the context of WSIS.

24-25
Moscow

Seminar on Application of UNFC to Energy and Mineral Commodities
Focal point: Slav Slavov,
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 24 44

The purpose of the Seminar is to test the application of the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) on particular deposits of oil, natural gas, coal and uranium; and also to assist in adapting the new Russian Classification for Resources to the UNFC principles.

28-29
Helsinki

Working Group on Water Management (4th meeting)
Focal point: Francesca Bernardini,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 63

Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/water/meetings/documents.htm

28-29
Almaty

ECE Seminar on the Application of Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in Selected CIS Countries
Focal point: Jean-Etienne Chapron,
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 917 15 86

The purpose of the Seminar is to identify best practices in the Application of Fundamental Principles. It is a follow up of the ECE/ESCAP Ulaan Baatar seminar of December 2001. Participants are chief statisticians of CIS countries that could not attend the Ulaan Baatar seminar. The Seminar is hosted by the Agency on Statistics of Kazakhstan and funded by the World Bank Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building.

28-30

Joint ECE/Eurostat Work Session on Migration Statistics (organized in cooperation with the UN Statistics Division)
Focal point: Paolo Valente,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 33 06

The purpose of the meeting is to help countries exchange experiences on the methods and techniques used for the collection, processing and dissemination of data related to migration statistics, and to facilitate progress by countries towards improved comparability of international migration statistics. Web site:
http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2003.04.migration.htm

28-30
Rome

Implementation Committee for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (11th meeting)
Focal point: Henning Wuester,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 63

The Committee will review the compliance by the Parties with their obligations under the Protocols to the Convention. It will review progress in seven cases of non-compliance with emission reduction obligations under the NOx and VOC Protocols. It will also review compliance with reporting obligations and discuss procedures to assess the quality of nationally reported emission data.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/