[Index]
Geneva, 6 May 2002
Strengthening the Organization
to be discussed at the fifty-seventh annual session of the
Commission
7-10 May 2002
(Palais des Nations, Room XIX)
For four days, the 55 member States of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) will meet for the annual session of the Commission at the
Palais des Nations in Geneva.
With the commencement of his second term of office, the Secretary-General
has expressed his desire to continue the process of strengthening the organization
in the light of the Millennium Declaration principles and priorities. In addition,
in view of the requests by the General Assembly for various reviews of the
Organization's activities, the Secretary-General has launched a review of
the Secretariat's programme of work coupled with an evaluation of its management
processes and support structures. In response to the request of the Secretary-General,
the UNECE secretariat has prepared a self-assessment of its programme of work
which will be discussed by the Commission.
It has become a tradition that the first day of the Commission session concentrates
on an in-depth discussion of the economic situation of the UNECE region. Eminent
economists and policy makers lead the discussion. This year, "Labour
market challenges in the ECE region" will be at the centre of the debate
on 7 May 2002 in Room XIX. The participants will address topics such as: FDI,
industrial restructuring and domestic labour markets; population ageing and
labour market responses.
On 8 May 2002, a debate will be organized on the "Economic Aspects
of security in Europe". The participants will address topics such as:
integrated policy approach to security and development; the sectoral dimensions
of security: the ECE role.
During its General Segment the Commission will discuss among other things
the conclusions and recommendations made by its Steering Group on the functioning
of the Principal Subsidiary Bodies (PSBs) and the Programme of Work, and a
progress report on ECE technical assistance. The Commission will also focus
on the preparation for and follow-up to World Conferences, in particular,
the Pan-European Ministerial Meeting in preparation of the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS). A representative of the Government of Romania,
which has offered to host a Pan-European Ministerial Meeting in anticipation
of the WSIS, will brief the Commission on this event. The Commission will
also review the preparations for the ECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing;
the preparations for, and possible follow-up to, the World Summit on Sustainable
Development as well as on the follow-up to the International Conference on
Financing for Development.
During its final session, the Commission will elect its new bureau.
The session and discussions are open to the public.
For further information please contact:
UNECE Information Service
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41(0)22 917 44 44
Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/
Ref: ECE/GEN/02/08