Joint ECE/WHO Expert Group on Transport, Environment and Health
Focal point: Tea Aulavuo, Tel: 917 17 23

At its third session, the Tripartite Expert Group is expected to focus on the preparation of the Ministerial Meeting on Transport, Environment and Health to be held in Geneva on 5 July 2002. It will discuss and finalize the documentation to be submitted for the adoption by the Ministers, including a Ministerial Declaration, a document on Transport, Environment and Health Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) and an executive summary of the paper focusing on the legally binding option for addressing the cross-sectoral priorities. It is also expected to take note of the Mid-term Review of the Vienna Programme of Joint Action prepared by the secretariat for endorsement by the Ministerial Meeting.

Spring Seminar on Labour Market Challenges in the ECE Region
Focal point: Dieter Hesse, Tel: 917 24 79

Room XIX.
Papers on: Unemployment in western Europe (Richard Jackman); Unemployment in the transition economies (Alena Nesporova); Increasing the size and the quality of the domestic labour force (Tito Boeri); Is immigration a solution to labour market problems? (Herbert Brcker)
Web site: http://www.unece.org/ead/ead_h.htm

FIFTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Focal point: Susan Bartolo, Tel: 917 14 69

Room XIX.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/commission/2002/57th_index.htm
The first-day discussion on policy implications of the Spring Seminar will be organized in two sessions as follows:
I. FDI, industrial restructuring and domestic labour markets
II. Population ageing and labour market responses

Ad Hoc Working Group on the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (5th meeting)
Focal point: Wiek Schrage, Tel: 917 24 48

The fifth meeting will further finalize the Protocol for adoption and signature at the Ministerial Conference in May 2003 in Ukraine. The meeting will be preceded by a seminar on the application of SEA to policies and legislation. Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/eia/

The Third Joint UNECE Task Force and EIONET Workshop on Emission Inventories and Projections (TFEIP), under the auspices of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)
Focal point: Brinda Wachs, Tel: 917 24 52

The aim of the Task Force is the improvement of European air emission inventories. This meeting will focus on: the introduction of software systems and tools for reporting on emissions, updating of the Emission Inventory Guidebook, and the endorsement of the Revised Draft Guidelines for Estimating and Reporting Emissions Data, as required under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Web site:
http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/TaskForce/tfeip/welcome.htm

Implementation Committee for the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (9th meeting)
Focal point: Henning Wuester, Tel: 917 23 63

The Committee will review the compliance by the Parties with their obligations under the Protocols to the Convention. It will consider four cases of possible non-compliance with emission reduction obligations under the NOx and VOC Protocols. It will also review compliance with reporting obligations and review draft guidelines for emission data reporting.

Working Group on Civil Liability and Industrial Accidents
Focal points: Rainer Enderlein, Tel: 917 23 73 & Serge Ludwiczak, Tel: 917 31 74

Web sites: www.unece.org/env/water

or www.unece.org/env/teia

access to documentation by clicking on "civil liability"

Meeting of the ECE/FAO Forest Communicators Network
Focal point: Ed Pepke, 917 28 72

Anticipated outcomes include:

Advancement of work on mandated tasks, specifically building of public relations capacity in the forest and forest industries sector in central and eastern European countries

Compendium of best PR practices

Exchange of information and building the network of forest sector communicators

Planning forthcoming contributions for the Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe and the UN Forum on Forests

Planning future work and meetings

Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/pr/pr.htm

Task Force on Integrated Assessment Modelling (27th meeting)
Focal point: Henning Wuester, Tel: 917 23 63

The Task Force will discuss preparations of the review of the Gothenburg Protocol to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone and input to the European Union's Clean Air for Europe Programme. It will focus on modelling of particulate matter and the links between regional modelling and pollution at the urban and the hemispheric scale.
Web site: http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/TaskForce/tfiam/welcome.html

Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15, 72nd session)
Focal point: Olivier Kervella, Tel: 917 24 56

Room XX. The working Party is expected to

- monitor the status of the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and discuss matters related to its implementation;

- finalize a set of amendments to Annexes A and B of the ADR for entry into force on 1 January 2003;

- discuss draft amendments to Annexes A and B of ADR for entry into force on 1 January 2005;

- discuss issues related to the safety of the transport of dangerous goods in tunnels;

- discuss the security aspects of the transport of dangerous goods.

Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/dgdb/wp15/wp15age.html

Working Party on Passive Safety
Focal point: Juan Ramos Garcia, Tel: 917 19 98

The GRSP 31st session of the body subsidiary to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) will continue consideration of world-wide harmonization of ISOFIX anchorage's for child restraint systems. GRSP will also consider 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. GRSP will also begin consideration of world-wide harmonization of pedestrian safety, door retention components, head restraints, side impact dummy, crash compatibility, and safety-belts and safety-belt anchorages. Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm

ECE Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (4th meeting)
Focal point: Albena Karadjova,
Tel: 917 23 45

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

Working Group for the Preparation of the First Meeting of Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (2nd meeting)
Focal point: Jeremy Wates, Tel: 917 23 84

The first meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention will take place in Lucca, Italy on 14-16 October 2002. The second preparatory Working Group Meeting will discuss the agenda for the first meeting as well as the issues likely to be on the agenda. These include substantive issues, such as genetically modified organisms, pollutant release and transfer registers, electronic information tools and access to justice; operational issues, such as work programme and financing the activities under the Convention and finally, procedures and mechanisms, such as reporting requirements and the establishment of a compliance mechanism. More information and all documentation for the preparatory meeting can be found at the Convention web site: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/prep.meeting.htm

Meeting of the team of specialists on forest resource assessment

Focal point: Alex Korotkov, 917 28 79

Recommendations of the regional FRA Team of Specialists to the Work Area 2 "Forest Resources Assessment", especially in the light of the preparation for the Global FRA Expert Consultation and reporting to the pan-European Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests.

Programme Task Force, ICP on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (18th meeting)
Focal point: Radek Chrast, Tel: 917 23 58

Meeting of specialists and national correspondents on European Forest Sector Outlook Studies (EFSOS)

Focal point: Volker Sasse, 917 16 37

Report by the secretariat, discussion and recommendations by the meeting on:

- EFSOS activities over the last year

- Draft outcomes of the base line study report (in three working groups)

o Overview, outlines

o Historical analysis of driving forces for development of forest resources and forest products markets

o Base line scenario on forest resources

o Base line scenario on forest products markets

o Outlook on labour resources, employment and social issues in the forest sector

o Scenarios with major impacts on the European forest and forest industry sector

- Russian forest sector outlook study

Information network, public relations of EFSOS, fund raising: (i) EFSOS project proposals, (ii) EFSOS work plan 2002 - 2003

Joint ECE/Eurostat/ILO Seminar on Measurement of the Quality of Employment
Focal point: Paolo Valente, Tel: 917 33 06

At the seminar various aspects of the measurement of the quality of employment will be discussed, including: forms of employment; indicators of employment quality; continuous training; occupational health and safety; and social dialogue. Web site:
http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2002.05.labour.htm

Work Session on Statistical Data Editing
Focal point: Juraj Riecan, Tel: 917 33 28

The work session will discuss the following topics: (i) Planning and management of statistical data editing; (ii) Measuring and evaluating data editing quality; (iii) Editing of administrative data; (iv) Impact of new technologies on statistical data editing; as well as possible future work on the evaluation of efficiency of data editing. Web site: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2002.05.sde.htm

Joint Meeting of Experts on the Regulations annexed to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway (ADN) (WP.15/AC.2, 6th session)
Focal point: Olivier Kervella, Tel: 917 24 56

The Joint Meeting is expected to:

- consider the status of ADN;

- finalize the restructuring of the regulations annexed to ADN;

- make recommendations with respect to the effective implementation of the restructured annexed Regulations;

- discuss issues related to the approval and recognition of classification societies.

TRADE FACILITATION WEEK

Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT)
Focal point: Mika Vepslinen, Tel: 917 31 97

The eighth Plenary Session of UN/CEFACT will discuss a new organizational structure based on an annual UN/CEFACT Forum. The objective of the Forum is to bring all UN/CEFACT groups together in order to create a cross-fertilization of ideas and synergies between the approaches, methods and topics in the current development work in the different groups. The first UN/CEFACT Forum is envisaged for September 2002.

Among the new items to be discussed will be a recommendation based on ebXML (electronic business extended markup language) specifications. In addition, the trade facilitation week of the UNECE will allow Plenary delegates to discuss a number of broader policy issues related to cooperation with other international organizations and the need for new activities emanating from the week's conclusions. Web site: http://www.unece.org/cefact/

UN/CEFACT Steering Group
Focal point: Mario Apostolov, Tel: 917 11 34

Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development
Focal point: Virginia Cram-Martos,
Tel: 917 27 45

Highlights of the sixth session of the Committee include the following:

- a presentation on recent economic developments in the region on the morning of 28 May

- reports on the activities of the Committee's subsidiary bodies including an in-depth report on work undertaken by the Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policy, particularly in the reduction of non-tariff barriers to trade

- a report on areas of common interest and possible joint work with the Timber Committee

- approval of the work programme and of work priorities for the next two years

- the round table described below on 31 May

- also on 31 May, approval of the recommendations from the International Forum on Trade Facilitation

- discussion of the policy implications of all of the above

International Forum on Trade Facilitation
Focal point: Mario Apostolov, Tel: 917 11 34

The International Forum on Trade Facilitation has been organized in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), all United Nations regional commissions, the secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and other organizations with an interest in trade facilitation.

The objective is to provide a neutral forum in the United Nations setting, where decision-makers from industry and Governments will meet and exchange views on possible ways to advance trade facilitation in the new global environment. The Forum will aim at a balanced representation of all regions in the world, bringing together a wide range of organizations and businesses with an interest in trade facilitation, and is expected to make an input to the multilateral trade negotiations. Speakers and participants will include government Ministers and other senior officials responsible for trade policy, customs and other relevant fields; senior decision-makers in the business community, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; and prominent experts in trade facilitation, e-business and transport issues.

Round-Table on the Implementation of Trade Facilitation in Transition Economies
Focal point: Virginia Cram-Martos,
Tel: 917 27 45

Following the International Forum during the Committee session, on 31 May, a round table will examine trade facilitation implementation issues of particular importance to transition economies. The objective of this round table is to identify and prioritise relevant trade facilitation issues for transition economies in the light of current experiences and the increasing importance of trade facilitation for development.
Presentations on the specific importance of trade facilitation for transition economies and their experiences with implementation will be made by high-level speakers from the Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Romania and Russia and Ukraine.