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BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention United Nations Environment Programme Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Office Address: International Environment House 1 Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Tel.: +39 06 5705 2061 ¦ Fax: +39 06 5705 3224 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 8271 ¦ Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 8098 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] 18 March 2022 Subject: Invitation to participate in the Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2022 face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, from 9-11 May 2022, in Prague, Czech Republic Dear Sir/Madam, We have the honour of inviting your Government to participate in the regional preparatory meeting for the Eastern Europe region pertaining to the 2022 face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which will be held from 9 to 11 May 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. The working language of the meeting will be English and Russian. Please note this meeting is being held back-to-back with the regional meeting for the Eastern Europe region for the preparation of the fourth meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (12-13 May 2022). Invitation letters for that meeting will be to SAICM focal points and sent by the SAICM secretariat. The objective of the meeting is to give Parties in the region the possibility to consult each other in advance of the face-to-face segment of the COPs taking place from 6 to 17 June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland, consider meeting documents, discuss substantive matters, identify regional priorities and challenges and facilitate the preparation of regional positions. The programme for the meeting is attached to the present letter and has been developed in consultation with the members of the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties to the three conventions from the Eastern Europe region. Due to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, precautionary and hygiene measures will be put in place at the meeting venue to ensure the safety of the participants, in accordance with United Nations and Czech rules. All participants will have to meet COVID-19-related requirements to enter the Czech Republic and to transit in other countries, as appropriate, at the time of travel. In particular, please note that either full vaccination against COVID-19, or proof of a negative PCR or antigen test result, or proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 are required for travelers to enter the Czech Republic. Further information would be provided to registered participants. We would be very grateful if your Government could designate up to two representatives to attend the above-mentioned meeting for Parties to at least two of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. If your country is a Party to only one of the three conventions, your Government is invited to designate one representative. Nominations for additional participants will be considered taking into account any limitation in the meeting venue capacity. The Secretariat would like to encourage Parties to ensure the participation of members of the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and to consider continuity among the delegates attending the preparatory meeting and those who would attend the 2022 face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties. To: Designated country contacts for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions cc: Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva and Permanent Representatives to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 2 The names and contact information of the designated representative(s) should be communicated to the Secretariat, together with the enclosed registration form, in an official letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Permanent Mission of the country to the United Nations in Geneva. Registrations should be sent to Secretariat as soon as possible, but no later than 8 April 2022 to: Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Ms. Emilie Raynaud E-mail: [email protected] In accordance with the applicable United Nations rules, subject to the availability of funding, financial assistance to help defray the cost of attending the meeting will be made available to two representatives per developing country or country with economy in transition that is Party to at least two of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. For countries that are a Party to only one of the conventions, one representative will be considered for financial assistance. If financial support for the designated representatives is required, please complete the relevant sections of the registration form and submit it to the above address no later than 8 April 2022, together with a scanned copy of the designated representatives’ passport. Please note that requests for financial assistance must be processed by the Secretariat at least four weeks prior to the meetings to ensure the timely issuance of air tickets and to allow time for the participants to apply for visas. It will not be possible to process travel for late nominations nor to modify travel arrangements once the air ticket is issued. The regional preparatory meeting is being organized in cooperation with the Stockholm Convention Regional Centre in the Czech Republic and thanks to the generous financial support provided by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland. As recalled in decisions BC-15/2, RC-10/3, and SC-10/4 on interim programmes of work and budgets for 2022, respectively adopted by the three conferences of the Parties at their online segment in 2021, please note that, concerning arrears, no representative of any Party whose contributions are in arrears for 4 (four) years or more, and that has not agreed on or is not respecting a schedule of payments, shall be eligible to receive financial support to attend “intersessional workshops or other informal meetings”. We take this opportunity to invite you to check the status of the Party that you represent and find some guidance on how to settle arrears, under the relevant Convention, by clicking on the following links: http://www.basel.int/tabid/8735 (BC) http://www.pic.int/tabid/8729 (RC) http://www.pops.int/tabid/8737 (SC) If in arrears, we encourage all relevant national authorities of your Government to settle all outstanding arrears or to agree on a payment plan before the deadline for nomination of participants. Any questions on the meetings can be addressed to the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions at: [email protected]. Yours sincerely, Rolph Payet Rémi Nono Womdim Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Stockholm Conventions Convention Encl. BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention United Nations Environment Programme Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Office Address: International Environment House 1 Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Tel.: +39 06 5705 2061 ¦ Fax: +39 06 5705 3224 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 8271 ¦ Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 8098 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE 2022 FACE‐TO‐FACE SEGMENT OF THE MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS FOR THE EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, 9‐11 MAY 2022 MONDAY 9 MAY 2022 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 9:30 Opening Host, bureaux Overview of the programme members, and Secretariat Item 1. Introduction to the 2022 face‐to‐face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) 9:30 – 10:00 Organization of work, high‐level segment, practical Presentation by the arrangements, credentials and elections of officers and Secretariat, followed members of subsidiary bodies by a discussion in plenary Item 2. Regional consultations: Joint issues 10:00 – 11:00  International cooperation and coordination: Presentation by the o Cooperation and coordination with the Minamata Secretariat, followed Convention on Mercury by a discussion in o Cooperation and coordination with other organizations plenary on each item  Enhancing cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions: o Clearing house mechanism for information exchange o Mainstreaming gender o Synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes o From science to action 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break 11:20 – 12:30  Technical assistance, including Basel and Stockholm Presentation by the Conventions regional centres Secretariat, followed  Financial resources by a discussion in  Programmes of work and budgets plenary on each item Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 2  Implementation of the memorandums of understanding between UNEP, FAO and the COPs  Venue and dates of the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch break 14:00 – 15:30 Break out group on joint issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break 15:50 – 16:20 Break out group on joint issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 16:20 – 16:50 Report from breakout groups Parties, observers Item 3. Regional consultations: Stockholm Convention 16:50 – 17:50  Listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C to the Convention: Presentation by the o Developments on the work of POPRC Secretariat, as o Recommendation from the POPRC to list PFHxS, its relevant, followed by salts and PFHxS‐related compounds in Annex A to the a discussion in Convention plenary on each item  Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use: o Exemptions o DDT o PCB o BDE TUESDAY 10 MAY 2022 9:00 – 10:00  Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from Presentation by the unintentional production Secretariat followed  Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from wastes by a discussion in  Implementation plans plenary on each item  Reporting  Effectiveness evaluation, including the Global Monitoring Programme  Compliance 10:00 – 11:00 Break out group on Stockholm Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties session) to the Conventions only 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break 11:20 – 12:00 Break out group on Stockholm Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties session) to the Conventions only 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch 13:30 – 14:00 Report from breakout groups Parties, observers Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 3 Item 4. Regional consultations: Basel Convention 14:00 – 15:30  Strategic issues Presentation by the o Strategic framework Secretariat followed, o Addressing the entry into force of the Ban Amendment by a discussion in o Development of guidelines for environmentally sound plenary on each item management  Scientific and technical matters: o Technical guidelines o Classification and hazard characterization of wastes o National reporting o Electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents o Further consideration of plastic waste o Waste containing nanomaterials 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break 15:50 – 16:20  Legal, compliance and governance matters: Presentation by the o Committee Administering the Mechanism for Secretariat followed, Promoting Implementation and Compliance by a discussion in o Providing further legal clarity, including proposals by plenary on each item the EU and by Ghana/Switzerland to amend certain annexes to the Convention o National legislation, notifications, enforcement of the Convention and efforts to combat illegal traffic o Proposal by the Russian Federation to amend paragraph 2 of Article 6 of the Convention  Basel Convention Partnership Programme  Work programme of the Open‐ended Working Group for the period 2022–2023 16:20 – 17:40 Break out group on Basel Convention issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 4 WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2022 9:00 – 9:30 Break out group on Basel Convention issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 9:30 – 10:00 Report from breakout groups Parties, observers Item 5. Regional consultations: Rotterdam Convention 10:00 – 11:00  Status of implementation of the Convention Presentation by the  Listing of chemicals in Annex III to the Convention: Secretariat, as o Developments on the work of CRC relevant, followed by o Recommendations from the CRC to list in Annex III to a discussion in the Convention acetochlor, carbosulfan, chrysotile plenary on each item asbestos, decabromodiphenyl ether, fenthion formulations, paraquat dichloride formulations, PFOA, its salts and PFOA‐related compounds 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break 11:20 – 12:10  Enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention, including Presentation by the the proposals to amend Articles 16 of the Convention Secretariat followed, submitted by African Parties to COP‐8 by a discussion in  Procedures and mechanisms on compliance plenary on each item 12:10 – 12:40 Break out group on Rotterdam Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 12:40 – 14:10 Lunch 14:10 – 15:10 Break out group on Rotterdam Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 15:10 – 15:40 Report from breakout groups Parties, observers 15:40 – 16:00 Coffee break Item 6. Closed session for preparation of regional positions 16:00– 16:45  Election of officers Parties to the  Preparation of regional statements Conventions only Item 7. Updates from the chemicals and waste cluster 16:45 – 17:45  Update on the Minamata Convention Presentation by  Update on the Strategic Approach to International Minamata Chemicals Management (SAICM) Convention and  Update on the resumed fifth session of the United Nations SAICM secretariats Environment Assembly (UNEA‐5.2) and UNEP, followed by discussion Item 8. Closure of the regional preparatory meeting 17:45 – 18:00 Conclusions and closure of the meeting Bureaux members and Secretariat ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ The regional preparatory meetings for the 2022 face‐to‐face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are organized thanks to the generous financial support provided by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, as well as the European Union through the Programme on Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements in the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP MEAs Programme). ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ REGISTRATION FORM FOR GOVERNMENTS EASTERN EUROPE REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE 2022 FACE-TO-FACE SEGMENT OF THE MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Prague , Czech Republic , 9 - 11 May 202 2 TO BE COMPLETED BY EACH MEETING PARTICIPANT Please type or print clearly (do not use abbreviations) and return the completed form by Friday , 8 April 202 2 to: Ms. Emilie Raynaud , e -mail: [email protected] Country PARTICIPANT DATA Mr. FORMCHECKBOX Ms. FORMCHECKBOX First name: Last name: Functional title : Section/Department: Name of o rganization/ i nstitution: E-mail address(es): Telephone : (including country and city code) mobile number : (including country code ) Complete m ailing address , s treet address or P.O. b ox , City, Country : ONLY FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR F INANCIAL SUPPORT (SEE BELOW) : Are you requesting financial support? FORMCHECKBOX YES FORMCHECKBOX NO Nationality : Date of birth (dd/mm/ yy ) : Place of birth : Important n ote : This form should be submitted by 8 April 2022 under cover of an official nomination letter by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Permanent Mission of your country to the United Nations in Geneva. It is essential that we receive your registration form by the deadline indicated above to be able to proceed with your registration. The Secretariat will not be able to process incomplete forms. Full vaccination against COVID-19, or proof of a negative PCR or antigen test result , or proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 are required for travelers to enter the Czech Republic . Depending on the availability of funds, financial assistance will be made available to support the participation of up to two representatives per eligible country that is Party to at least two of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. It is essential that we receive completed registration dossiers (registration form, official nomination and copy of passport identification page) by the deadline indicated above to process travel support, where applicable. We will not be in a position to process travel for late nominations. Saatja: Emilie Raynaud(Affiliate) <[email protected]> Saadetud: 22.03.2022 11:10 Koopia: Alain Wittig <[email protected]> Teema: Invitation to the Eastern Europe regional preparatory meeting - PARTY - 9-11 May 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. Tähtsus: Kõrgeim Dear contact points for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in the Eastern Europe region, We are pleased to invite your Government to participate in the Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2022 face-to-face segment of the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which will be held from 9-11 May 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. Please find attached the invitation letter and registration form, together with the provisional programme of the meeting. Due to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, precautionary and hygiene measures will be put in place at the meeting venue to ensure the safety of the participants, in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations and the Government of Czech Republic. These requirements are subject to change as per local conditions and we ask for your understanding that arrangements for the meeting might need to be adapted accordingly. Further information will be provided to registered participants. Any questions on the meeting can be addressed to the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions to: Yours sincerely, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions