[Index]
UNECE wraps
up its 58th session
Geneva, 7 March 2003 - On
6 March 2003, the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) concluded
its 58th session (Geneva, 4-6 March
2003). The highlights of the session
were the Myrdal Lecture, the discussions
on the implementation of sustainable
development strategies in the UNECE
member countries, and the release
of the Economic Survey. Mrs. Brigita
Schmögnerová, the Commission's
Executive Secretary, and Mr. Clyde
Kull (Estonia), the Chairman of its
58th session, closed the meeting.
More than 400 people attended
the lecture by Nobel prize winner
Professor Douglass C. North of the
United States. The lecture was part
of the series of Myrdal Lectures,
devoted to major international economic
problems and named after Gunnar
Myrdal, a distinguished social scientist
and the Commission's first Executive
Secretary (1947-1957). Professor
North gave his lecture, entitled
"The Role of Institutions in Economic
Development", at the Palais des
Nations on Wednesday, 5 March 2003.
The full text of his lecture will
be issued shortly.
Following the World Summit on Sustainable
Development last summer, UNECE seized
the opportunity of its 58th session
to review the national strategies
for sustainable development of its
member States. Two panels discussed
these strategies. One focused on
progress in national strategies
for sustainable development; the
other on strategy implementation
and the role of international cooperation.
Most countries have either already
formulated a national strategy for
sustainable development or are doing
so. However, the task is daunting.
It is, therefore, advisable not
to tackle all issues raised by Agenda
21, but to limit action to carefully
selected priorities. These priorities
must be set through a process of
consultation with all stakeholders,
including local communities, business,
civil society, organizations, academics
and NGOs, and should encompass the
economic, social and environmental
pillars of sustainable development.
Experience in several countries
shows that it is important to establish
an appropriate institutional framework,
such as an interministerial committee
or a national council, to develop
a national strategy and subsequently
fine-tune it. Such a framework ensures
that the priorities set are actually
the result of the involvement of
government at all levels and of
all stakeholders (local authorities,
NGOs, scientific circles, private
sector). It can, consequently, promote
a feeling of ownership. In this
context, the Internet can serve
as a tool to facilitate public consultation,
by making information available
to the public and receiving feedback
from all parts of civil society.
The establishment of focal points
in government departments and in
related organizations can reinforce
this institutional framework for
sustainable development.
UNECE delegations highlighted that
the national sustainable development
plan should be a living document,
with reviews and monitoring mechanisms
put in place. Its development and
implementation should be a continual
learning process. Progress in implementation
should be measured with concrete
indicators, clearly identified targets
and a fixed timetable.
The role of UNECE in promoting
sustainable development and in the
follow-up to the World Summit was
reviewed against the background
of these presentations and discussions.
Delegates generally supported UNECE
having a significant role in the
follow-up to the Johannesburg Summit.
However, any decision on specific
modalities will have to be taken
after the upcoming session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development,
which starts on 28 April 2003, in
order to ensure a consistent linkage
between the regional and the global
level.
UNECE also discussed the economic
developments in its region. The
findings of the Economic Survey
of Europe 2003 No. 1 served
as background for this discussion.
In his presentation, Mr. Dieter
Hesse, Director of the Economic
Analysis Division, noted that global
economic development in 2002 had
been quite disappointing but that
economic recovery was expected to
start from the second half of 2003.
He reported that while growth had
been modest in Western Europe and
North America, Eastern Europe and
the Commonwealth of Independent
States had experienced moderate
to high growth based on strong domestic
demand and good export performance.
(For further information see related
press releases.)
The Commission also discussed UNECE
reform, the major policy directions
of UNECE's work; its achievements
and constraints during 2002 and
the outlook for 2003; the preparation
of world and regional conferences
and their follow-up; UNECE's technical
cooperation and the report of its
Group of Experts on the Programme
of Work. The Commission also welcomed
the UNECE secretariat's contribution
to the Organization for Security
and Co-operation (OSCE) and strongly
supported the UNECE secretariat's
role in the preparation of the New
Strategy Document as mandated by
the OSCE Ministerial Conference
in Porto, Portugal (December 2002).
At its last meeting, the Commission
re-elected Mr. Clyde Kull (Estonia)
Chairman. Mr. Vladimir Thanati (Albania),
Mr. Sergei Aleinik (Belarus) and
Mr. Michel Adam (Belgium) were elected
Vice-Chairpersons.
For further information please contact:
UNECE Information Service
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Ref: ECE/GEN/03/P07
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