Invitation

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 2025 MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS FOR THE EASTERN EUROPE REGION WARSAW, POLAND, 26‐28 MARCH 2025 WEDNESDAY, 26 MARCH 2025 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 9:30 Opening Host, bureaux Overview of the programme members, and Secretariat Item 1. Regional consultations: Basel Convention issues 09:30 – 11:00 • 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 • 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 • Legal, compliance and governance matters: o Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance 11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 2 11:20-12:00 • Legal, compliance and governance matters (cont.): Presentation by the o Providing further legal clarity Secretariat, followed o National legislation, notifications, enforcement of by a discussion in the Convention and efforts to combat illegal traffic plenary on each item 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 2026–2027 12:00-12:30 Break out groups on Basel Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties to session) the Conventions only 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch break 14:00 – 15:30 Break out groups on Basel Convention issues (closed session) Secretariat, Parties to the Conventions only 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break 15:50 – 16:20 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Item 2. Regional consultations: Rotterdam Convention 16:20 – 18:00 • 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: chlorpyrifos, methyl bromide, a discussion in mercury, paraquat, acetochlor, carbosulfan, plenary on each item chrysotile asbestos, fenthion formulations, iprodione and paraquat dichloride formulations THURSDAY, 27 MARCH 2025 9:00 – 9:30 • Enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention: Presentation by the o Follow-up to decision RC-11/4 Secretariat followed o Follow-up to decision RC-10/10 by a discussion in o Proposal to amend Article 16 of the Convention plenary on each item submitted by some African Parties to COP-8 • Compliance • Status of implementation of the Convention 09:30 – 11:10 Break out groups on Rotterdam Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties session) to the Conventions only 11:10 – 11:30 Coffee break 11:30-12:00 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 3 Item 3. Regional consultations: Stockholm Convention 12:00 – 12:30 • Listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C to the Presentation by the Convention: Secretariat followed, o Developments on the work of POPRC by a discussion in o Recommendations from the POPRC to list in Annex A plenary on each item to the Convention: chlorpyrifos, chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related compounds o Proposal by Ethiopia to amend Annex A regarding UV-238 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 15:30 • Listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C to the Presentation by the Convention (cont.) Secretariat followed, • Compliance by a discussion in • Measures to reduce or eliminate releases from plenary on each item intentional production and use: o Exemptions o DDT o PCB o Brominated diphenyl ethers 15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break 15:50 – 16:30 • 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 pursuant to Article 15 • Effectiveness evaluation, including the Global Monitoring Programme 16:30 – 18:00 Break out groups on Stockholm Convention issues (closed Secretariat, Parties session) to the Conventions only FRIDAY, 28 MARCH 2025 9:00 – 9:30 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Item 4. Regional consultations: Joint issues 09:30 – 11:00 • International cooperation and coordination: Presentation by the secretariats, followed Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 4 o Cooperation and coordination with the Minamata by a discussion in Convention on Mercury plenary on each item o Cooperation and coordination with other organizations o Updates from the chemicals and waste cluster: ➢ Minamata Convention on Mercury ➢ Global Framework on Chemicals ➢ Resolutions adopted at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly ➢ Special Programme on Institutional Strengthening for Chemicals and Waste ➢ Ad hoc Open-Ended Working Group on the Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution ➢ Intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment 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 and mechanisms by a discussion in • Enhancing cooperation and coordination among the plenary on each item 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 • Programmes of work and budgets • Venue and dates of the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch 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 Report from break out groups Parties, observers Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 5 Item 5. General information on the 2025 meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) 16:20 – 16:50 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 6. Closed session 16:50– 17:50 • Election of officers Parties to the • Preparation of regional statements Conventions only • Discussion on the opportunity to have technical meetings during the 2025 BRS COPs between the EU and non-EU countries from the Eastern European region to increase understanding of the national provisions implementing the Rotterdam Convention Item 7. Closure of the regional preparatory meeting 17:50 – 18:00 Conclusions and closure of the meeting Bureaux members and Secretariat ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ The regional preparatory meetings for the 2025 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, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 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] 13 December 2024 Subject: Invitation to participate in the regional meeting for the Eastern Europe region in preparation for the 2025 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, 26-28 March 2025, Warsaw, Poland Dear Sir/Madam, The regional preparatory meeting for the Eastern Europe region pertaining to the 2025 meetings of the conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will be held from 26 to 28 March 2025, in Warsaw, in cooperation with the Government of Poland. The objectives of the meeting are to give Parties in the region the possibility to consult each other in advance of the COPs taking place from 28 April to 9 May 2025 in Geneva, consider meeting documents, discuss substantive matters, identify regional priorities and challenges and facilitate the preparation of regional positions and forthcoming elections. The provisional programme for the meeting is attached to this 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. The working languages of the meeting will be English and Russian. We have the honor to invite your Government to designate up to two representatives to participate in- person in the above-mentioned meeting. Nominations for additional participants will be considered taking into account any limitation in the meeting venue capacity. Additionally, your Government is invited to nominate up to two additional representatives to receive online viewer access to the plenary sessions of the meeting, if this is of interest to your Government. Online viewer mode aims at enabling additional representatives to receive information on the organization of work and items on the agendas of the COPs meetings, and hear exchanges among countries from the regions in order to assist preparatory processes. Online viewers will not be able to intervene during the meeting and will not be included in the list of participants. The names and contact information of all the designated representative(s) participating in-person meeting and seeking online viewer access should be communicated to the Secretariat, together with the enclosed registration form, in an official nomination letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Permanent Mission of your country to the United Nations in Geneva. Registrations should be sent to the Secretariat as soon as possible, but no later than 27 January 2025 to: [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. The official nomination letter or the note verbale from the Permanent Mission in Geneva needs to indicate which representatives are to receive financial support. 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 If financial support for the designated representatives of eligible country Parties is required, please complete the relevant sections of the registration form and submit it to the above address no later than 27 January 2025, together with a scanned copy of the designated representatives’ passport. Nominations that are received beyond this deadline may not be considered for financial assistance. 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. Confirmed participants to the meeting will be invited to check the visa requirements to enter Poland. The Government of Poland will assist participants requiring a visa to enter Poland by providing a visa facilitation letter to support their application in due course. 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 Poland. The regional preparatory meeting is being organized thanks to the generous financial contributions provided by the Governments of Germany, Sweden and Switzerland and the United Nations Environment Programme, and the support of the Government of Poland and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for Central Europe in Slovakia. As recalled in decisions BC-16/28, RC-11/15, and SC-11/27 on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2024-2025, 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: https://www.basel.int/tabid/9815 (BC) https://www.pic.int//tabid/9816 (RC) https://www.pops.int//tabid/9812 (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 27 January 2025, the deadline for nomination of participants. Any questions on the meeting can be addressed to: [email protected]. Yours sincerely, Rolph Payet Christine Fuell Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam Executive Secretary ad interim and Stockholm Conventions of the Rotterdam Convention Encl. REGISTRATION FORM FOR PARTIE S EASTERN EUROPE PREPARATORY MEETING FOR THE 202 5 MEETINGS OF THE CONFERENCES OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Warsaw , Poland , 26 to 28 March 202 5 TO BE COMPLETED BY EACH MEETING PARTICIPANT Please type or print clearly (do not use abbreviations) and return the completed form by 2 7 January 202 5 to: [email protected] Country PARTICIPANT DATA Mr. FORMCHECKBOX Ms. FORMCHECKBOX First name: Last name: Functional title : Section/Department: Name of institution: Complete mailing address, street address or P.O. box, City, Country: E-mail address(es): Telephone : (incl . country and city code) mobile number: (including country code) ONLINE VIEWER ACCESS ☐ I register to the meeting for online viewer access only . To be f ille d by Government representatives eligible for f unding a ttending the meeting i n person : Is your Government requesting financial support for you to participate in person in the r egional p reparatory m eeting ? 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 note s : This form should be submitted by 2 7 January 202 5 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. Nominations that are received beyond this deadline may not be considered for financial assistance. F inancial assistance will be made available to support the participation of two representative s maximum 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 dossier ( 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]> Teema: Invitation to the BRS COPs regional preparatory meeting for the Eastern Europe region | Parties Kuupäev: 2024-12-16 16:13 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. 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 2025 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, which will be held from 26 to 28 March 2025 in Warsaw, Poland. Please find attached the invitation letter, the registration form and the provisional programme of the regional preparatory meeting. In accordance with the requirements set out in the attached invitation letter, please ensure that the official registration of the representatives designated by your Government to participate in the meeting is submitted to the Secretariat at: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , no later than 27 January 2025. Any questions regarding the meeting can be addressed to: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . Yours sincerely, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions