June

Title

Comments

2-3
Obninsk, Russian Federation

Workshop on Environmental Networking and Information Systems
Focal point: Mikhail Kokine,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 47

Current situation with environmental networking and information systems in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia as well as developing national metadata bases. Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/europe/monitoring/TandG_en.html

2 (pm)-6

Working Party on Passive Safety
Focal point: Juan Ramos Garca,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 19 98

The GRSP 33rd session of the body subsidiary to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) will continue consideration of a range of amendments to ECE Regulations related to vehicle passive safety requirements, in particular safety-belts and its anchorages, interior fittings, and frontal and lateral protection collision. Special mention should be made to the new EUROSID 2 dummy, which improves the current dummy for lateral collision tests. GRSP will also continue consideration of world-wide harmonization of pedestrian safety, door retention components, head restraints, and crash compatibility. GRSP will also consider the issue of restraining children travelling in buses and coaches. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

3-5

Working Party on the Standardization of Technical and Safety Requirements in Inland Navigation, 26th session
Focal point: Viatcheslav Novikov,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 78

Expected outcome: Amendment of the European Code for Inland Waterways (CEVNI), of the Signs and Signals on Inland Waterways (SIGNI) and exchange of views on future River Information Service (RIS). Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/sc3/sc3.html

10 (pm)-13

CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS
Focal point: Lidia Bratanova,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 17 72

Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2003.06.ces.htm

11
(3 pm)

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

Room IX.

11-12
Paris

Joint Meeting of the Expert Group on Techno-economic Issues and the Expert Group on Ammonia Abatement
Focal point: Brinda Wachs,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 52

Under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, these two expert groups will look at abatement technologies and their costs, in particular regarding Ammonia, Methane and Nitrous Oxide, in preparation for the revision of the 1999 multi-pollutant Gothenburg Protocol, once it enters into force.

11-13

Working Party on Transport Statistics
Focal point: Miroslav Jovanovic,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 93

Web sites for documents: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp6/transstatwp6agenda.html
http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp6/transstatwp6wdoc.html
http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp6/transstatwp6inf.html

16, 17 & 20

TIR Executive Board, 18th session
Focal point: Poul Hansen,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 58

The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB), a subsidiary body of the TIR Administrative Committee, is composed of 9 members, each from different Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention. The TIRExB supervises and provides support in the application of the TIR procedure at the national and international levels. At its 18th session, the Board will review its activities conducted in 1999-2003, consider some practical problems in the implementation of the TIR procedure and endorse draft comments to the Convention and examples of best practices. At a later stage, these comments and examples will be transmitted to the TIR Administrative Committee for approval.
Web site: http://tir.unece.org

16-20

Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport, 104th session
Focal point: Poul Hansen,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 58

The Working Party will review the status of the 14 United Nations Conventions in the field of border crossing facilitation, which are administered by the Working Party. In particular, the Working Party will consider the status of the Conventions on Temporary Importation of Private and Commercial Road Vehicles, a new Convention for Customs transit by rail and the progress in the current revision of the TIR Convention as well as a large number of issues relating to the application of the TIR Customs transit procedure.
Web site: http://border.unece.org

17-20

Meeting of Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Focal point: Tom Heilandt,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 50

The meeting will revise UNECE Standards for Apples, Artichokes, Courgettes, Kiwi fruit, Onions, Peaches and Nectarines, Pears and Strawberries. The recommendations for Citrus fruit, Plums, Table Grapes, Pineapples will be reviewed. Draft new standards for Shallots and Truffles will be discussed. Additionally the meeting will discuss maturity requirements, cooperation with other organizations, organic produce and operational activities.
For further information see http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/meetings/ge.01/a2003_49.htm

23-24

Conference on UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia
Focal point: Larissa Kapitsa,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 42 21

The major goals of the conference are: to enhance the understanding of the Central Asian situation and the role of SPECA among the UNECE member States; to highlight the progress of transition in the Central Asia countries; to mobilize resources for funding SPECA sub-regional cooperative projects; to provide the opportunity for business-to-business and Government-to-Government contact and networking; and to coordinate the activities of the UN agencies and organizations in Central Asia. The expected results are: increased awareness of the Central Asian situation among the targeted audiences; new business and government contacts; and funding for SPECA cooperative projects. Web site: http://www.unece.org/operact/opera/sppled/pledconf.htm

23-24
Sofia

Meeting of the Aarhus Convention Task Force on Electronic Information Tools
Focal point: Jeremy Wates,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 84

The Task Force was established by the first Meeting of the Parties to promote the more effective use of electronic information tools in the implementation of the Convention. During its first meeting, the Task Force will review recent developments and processes in the area of electronic tools, consider the list of possible actions annexed to the report of the workshop held in Arendal in 2001 and identify main priority issues and ideas for concrete activities, exchange information on good practices in the use of electronic tools and consider ways to contribute to the implementation of capacity building measures in cooperation with the Convention's capacity building service and the clearing-house mechanism. More information on web site: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/electronictools.htm

23

Administrative Committee for the Coordination of Work (WP.29/AC.2)
Focal point: Juan Ramos Garca,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 19 98

The 82nd meeting of WP.29/AC.2 is scheduled to consider the programme of work of WP.29 and its six subsidiary bodies and give its advice concerning work to be undertaken.

24-27

World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)
Focal point: Juan Ramos Garca,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 19 98

Under the 1958 Agreement, the agenda of the 130th session lists 27 amendments to ECE Regulations, proposals for 6 new ECE Regulations and 2 proposals for the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of vehicles. The global harmonization should continue to be considered in the framework of the 1998 Global Agreement for the 15 priorities. Future developing and implementation of the 1997 Agreement on periodic technical inspections of road vehicles should also be discussed. Besides, WP.29 will receive reports of its six subsidiary bodies and consider their programme of work. Documents could be consulted in: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

24-27

Meeting of Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit)
Focal point: Tom Heilandt,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 50

The meeting will revise the UNECE Standards for Almond Kernels, Inshell Almonds, Pistachio Kernels and Peeled Pistachio Kernels, Inshell Pistachio Nuts and Prunes. The meeting is expected to finalize the revision of the annexes to the standard layout on determination of the moisture content for dried fruit and terms recommended and definition of defects. Additionally the meeting will discuss cooperation with other organizations, organic produce and operational activities. For further information see http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/meetings/ge.02/a2003_50.htm

25-26
Luxembourg

ECE/Eurostat Meeting on Business Registers
Focal point: Jan Karlsson,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 32 85

Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2003.06.busreg.htm

26-27

Ad Hoc Meeting of the Multidisciplinary Group of Experts on Safety in Tunnels (rail)
Focal point: Miodrag Pesut,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 41 36

The Group of Experts is expected to discuss and adopt the Recommendations on Safety in Tunnels (rail). Further information is available at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/ac9/ac9age.html

27-28
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Workshop on Environmental Indicators for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
Focal point: Mikhail Kokine,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 23 47

Core set of environmental indicators for EECCA countries and reporting on these indicators. Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/europe/monitoring/IandR_en.html

30-1 July

Forum on Online Dispute Resolution
Focal point: Daewon Choi,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 74

This second annual UNECE Forum aims to address major issues relating to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) online and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in the context of the World Summit on the Information Society. ODR is considered to be an important building block for the development of a knowledge-based economy and the governance of cyberspace. To this end, interoperability between technology and law needs to be further addressed. The Forum will bring together legal and technical experts, government officials, the business sector, academia and major international organizations.

30-4 July

Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (23rd session)
Focal point: Olivier Kervella,
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 24 56

Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/dgsubc/c3age.html