Kutse

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] 20 December 2022 Subject: Invitation to participate in the Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, from 28-30 March 2023, in Zagreb, Croatia 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 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which will be held from 28 to 30 March 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia. The working languages of the meeting will be English. The objective of the meeting is to give Parties in the region the possibility to consult each other in advance of the COPs taking place from 1 to 12 May 2023 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. 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 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties. 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 the Secretariat as soon as possible, but no later than 3 February 2023 to: Ms. Jo Ann Princess Edma Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) E-mail: [email protected] 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 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 3 February 2023, 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. It is the responsibility of each participant to obtain the required entry visa to Croatia. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival. Information on the visa requirements to enter Croatia is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia at https://mvep.gov.hr/services-for- citizens/consular-information-22802/visas-22807/visa-requirements-overview-22879/22879. Travel restrictions put in place to address the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are subject to change. It is the responsibility of each participant to familiarize themself with travel restrictions in the country of arrival, transit and origin, including for re-entry. Appropriate precautionary and hygiene measures will be put in place at the meeting venue, in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations and the Government of Croatia. The Secretariat strongly recommends that all participants in the meeting be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Further information will be provided to registered participants. The United Nations does not cover life, medical or travel insurance for participants. Therefore, it is your responsibility or that of your Government to ensure that you obtain comprehensive international medical and travel insurance prior to your travel to Croatia. We recommend including COVID-19 related insurance to help cover your expenses in case you will be required to quarantine and/or receive medical treatment. The Secretariat would not be in position to bear the costs of quarantine in Croatia nor in the travellers’ home countries upon return, nor the costs of testing, nor be able to arrange for vaccination of participants. The regional preparatory meeting is being organized thanks to the generous financial support provided by the Governments of Germany and Switzerland. As recalled in decisions BC-15/30, RC-10/19, and SC-10/26 on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2022-2023, respectively adopted by the three conferences of the Parties, 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/9207 (BC) http://www.pic.int/tabid/9209 (RC) http://www.pops.int/tabid/9208 (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 3 February 2023, 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, For: Rolph Payet Rémi Nono Womdim Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Convention Stockholm Conventions 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 2023 MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS FOR THE EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION ZAGREB, CROATIA, 28‐30 MARCH 2023 TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 2023 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 9:30 Opening Host, bureaux Overview of the programme members, and Secretariat Item 1. Introduction to the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) 9:30 – 10:00 Organization of work, practical arrangements, credentials and Presentation by the elections of officers and members of subsidiary bodies Secretariat, followed 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 plenary on each item organizations • 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 Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 2 11:20 – 12:30 • Technical assistance, including Basel and Stockholm Presentation by the Conventions regional centres Secretariat, followed • Financial resources and mechanisms by a discussion in plenary on each item • Programmes of work and budgets • 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 groups on joint issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break 15:50 – 16:20 Break out groups on joint issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 16:20 – 16:50 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Item 3. Regional consultations: Stockholm Convention 16:50 – 17:50 • Listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C to the Presentation by the Convention: Secretariat, as o Developments on the work of POPRC relevant, followed by o Recommendation from the POPRC to list a discussion in Dechlorane Plus, methoxychlor and UV-328 in plenary on each item Annex A to the Convention • Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use: o Exemptions o DDT o PCB o PFOS, its salts and PFOSF WEDNESDAY, 29 MARCH 2023 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 plenary on each item • Implementation plans • Reporting • Effectiveness evaluation, including the Global Monitoring Programme • Compliance 10:00 – 11:00 Break out groups on Stockholm Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 3 11:20 – 12:00 Break out groups on Stockholm Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 12:00 – 12:30 Report from break out groups Parties, observers 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Item 4. Regional consultations: Basel Convention 14:00 – 15:30 • Strategic issues Presentation by the o Strategic framework Secretariat followed, o Improving the functioning of the prior informed by a discussion in consent procedure plenary on each item o Development of guidelines for environmentally sound 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 Amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX on e-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 plenary on each item 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 2024–2025 16:20 – 17:00 Break out groups on Basel Convention issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 2023 9:00 – 10:00 Break out groups on Basel Convention issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 10:00 – 10:30 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 4 Item 5. Regional consultations: Rotterdam Convention 10:30 – 11:00 • Listing of chemicals in Annex III to the Convention: Presentation by the o Developments on the work of CRC Secretariat, as o Recommendations from the CRC to list in Annex III relevant, followed by to the Convention acetochlor, carbosulfan, a discussion in chrysotile asbestos, fenthion formulations, plenary on each item iprodione, paraquat dichloride formulations and terbufos 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break 11:20 – 12:00 • Enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention, including Presentation by the the proposal to amend Article 16 of the Convention Secretariat followed, submitted by African Parties to COP‐8 and the proposal by a discussion in from Switzerland, Australia, Burkina Faso, Ghana and plenary on each item Mali to amend Articles 7, 10, 11 and 22 of the Convention and to add a new Annex VIII • Compliance • Status of implementation of the Convention 12:00 – 12:30 Break out groups on Rotterdam Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 15:00 Break out groups on Rotterdam Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 15:00 – 15:30 Report from break out groups Parties, observers 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break Item 6. Closed session for preparation of regional positions 15:50– 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 SAICM secretariats • Update on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on and the Government Sustainable Consumption and Production of Croatia, 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 Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 5 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ The regional preparatory meetings for the 2023 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 Germany and Switzerland. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ REGISTRATION FORM FOR PARTIE S EASTERN EUROPE REGIONAL PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE 2023 MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Zagreb , Croatia , 28-30 March 202 3 TO BE COMPLETED BY EACH MEETING PARTICIPANT Please type or print clearly (do not use abbreviations) and return the completed form by 3 February 202 3 to: [email protected] Country PARTICIPANT DATA Mr. FORMCHECKBOX Ms. FORMCHECKBOX First name: Last name: Functional title : Section/Department: Name of institution: E-mail address(es): Telephone : (incl . country and city code) mobile number: (including country code) Complete mailing address, street address or P.O. box, City, Country: O nly for representatives from Governments eligible for financial support ( see below) : Are you requesting financial support? FORMCHECKBOX Yes FORMCHECKBOX No City of departure (airport): Please also provide a copy of the first page of your national passport (valid for more than 6 months). Important n ote s : This form should be submitted by 3 February 202 3 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. Depending on the availability of funds, financial assistance will be made available to support the participation of up to two representative s 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: BRS Secretariat (No-Reply) <[email protected]> Saadetud: 21.12.2022 19:20 Koopia: <[email protected]> Teema: Invitation letter - Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, 28-30 March 2023, Zagreb - Croatia Dear contact points for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, Please find attached an invitation letter and registration form for the Eastern Europe regional meeting in preparation for the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which will be held from 28 to 30 March 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia. The provisional programme of the regional preparatory meeting is also attached. The names and contact information of the designated representatives should be communicated to the Secretariat at: , 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, as soon as possible, but no later than 3 February 2023. Any questions on the meetings can be addressed to the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions at: . Yours sincerely, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions