UN/ECE ADOPTS THREE DECISIONS
28 April 1997
On Thursday, 24 April 1997, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) adopted three decisions related to UN/EDIFACT, the classification of solid fuels and its own reform.
Endorsement of ECE Recommendation 25, "Use of the UN/EDIFACT Standard" (ECE/TRADE/207) for Endorsement by ECOSOC as an International UN Recommendation
In its first decision the Commission endorsed the September 1996 decision of the Working Party on Facilitation of International Trade Procedures, now known as the Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices in Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT), as found in TRADE/WP.4/197, paragraph 48, as well as the December 1996 decision of the Committee on the Development of Trade (ECE/TRADE/210, para. 23), endorsing ECE Recommendation 25, "Use of the UN/EDIFACT Standard" (ECE/TRADE/207) and recommending that ECOSOC adopt it as an international UN Recommendation. It recommended that the Economic and Social Council endorse ECE/TRADE/207 as an international UN Recommendation.
UN Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT) is the only international standard for Electronic Data Interchange and is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with the ISO. The development and maintenance of the Standard is done by around 1,500 technical experts whose input is managed by Regional UN/EDIFACT Boards (Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Central and Eastern Europe, Pan America and Western Europe with plans to revive the African Board). In addition ECE/EDIFACT has been endorsed for use by a number of important international organizations such as the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (S.W.I.F.T.) and the International Article Numbering Association (EAN). It is estimated that over 100,000 private and public organizations have implemented the Standard.
However, in some countries outside the region governments have hesitated to adopt for their own use a purely ECE Recommendation. Therefore, the Working Party on Facilitation of International Trade Procedures, now known as the Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices in Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT), had been asked to request the endorsement of Recommendation 25 on the use of UN/EDIFACT by delegations and technical experts coming from outside the ECE region as well as by a number of international organizations. They believe that such an ECOSOC Recommendation would be a valuable tool for promoting the implementation of UN/EDIFACT by their governments, thus bringing governmental practices more in line with those of the private sector.
United Nations International Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources: Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities
In its second decision the Commission endorsed the decision of the Working Party on Coal (ENERGY/WP.1/12, para. 33) and that of the Committee on Energy (ECE/ENERGY/30, para. 43) taken at their sixth session held in 1996 to approve the new "United Nations Framework Classification for Reserves/ Resources: Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities". It requested the ECE secretariat to publish, by November 1997, the UN-Framework Classification to facilitate the use of the classification framework by major coal and mineral industries worldwide. It also recommended to the Committee on Sustainable Energy to monitor the application of the UN-Framework Classification commencing 1997. Finally, it recommended to the Economic and Social Council to consider appropriate measures for the world-wide application of the UN-Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources.
An international framework classification for reserves/resources of solid fuels and mineral commodities was recently completed under the auspices of the Working Party on Coal. Work on the Classification started in earnest in 1994. The main purpose for developing the classification framework was to create an instrument which would permit reserves/resources to be classified on an internationally consistent and uniform basis using market economy criteria.
The classification framework will enable the incorporation of national and regional classification systems into a consistent, unified framework in order to make them compatible and comparable; help to enhance communication on a national and international level; provide for a better understanding and firmer knowledge of available reserves/resources; assist economies in transition in reassessing their solid fuels and mineral deposits according to market economy criteria; and facilitate investments, notably in transition and developing countries.
The classification framework has been endorsed by the Working Party on Coal and the Committee on Energy. In addition, the elaboration of the classification was supported by major coal and minerals producing non-ECE countries, among which were Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa and Thailand (these countries participated in the elaboration of the Classification pursuant to Article 11 of the Commission's Terms of Reference). More than sixty ECE and non-ECE countries participated in the elaboration of the Classification.
The Classification is available in the three ECE working languages. Furthermore, arrangements are underway to have it translated into four additional languages, namely Chinese, German, Portuguese and Spanish. These translations are being undertaken by participating institutions of the countries that took part in the elaboration of the Classification.
In brief, ECE countries are being asked to endorse the Classification; request that it be published; invite the Committee on Sustainable Energy to monitor its implementation; and recommend that ECOSOC consider appropriate measures for its worldwide application. A similar resolution was adopted regarding the codification of medium and high rank coals by both the Commission and ECOSOC in 1988.
This Classification Framework is a good example of the normative functions of the Commission (i.e., the development of norms, standards, and guidelines) to promote the integration of the economies of ECE countries. In addition, it illustrates how a norm or standard developed under the auspices of the ECE can then be subsequently promulgated and adopted more globally.
Endorsement of the Declaration on the Strengthening of Economic Cooperation in Europe and the Plan of Action
The Commission having adopted, on 22 April 1997, the Declaration on the Strengthening of Economic Cooperation in Europe and the Plan of Action, as contained in documents E/ECE/1346, and E/ECE/1347 and Corr.1, respectively, recommended that the Economic and Social Council endorse these documents (see press releases ECE/GEN/97/8 and 9).