Committee of Ministers

Comité des Ministres

COUNCIL FOR THE PAN-EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL AND LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY STRATEGY

(STRA-CO)

3^rd meeting, Geneva, 20-21 April 1999

ABRIDGED REPORT

1. The Council for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (STRA-CO) held its 3^rd meeting on 20 and 21 April 1999 in Geneva, and was chaired by Mrs Louise LAKOS (Hungary).

2. The list of participants and the agenda appear respectively in appendices 1 and 2 to the present report.

3. The Council for the Strategy adopted its revised rules of procedure.

4. The Council for the Strategy took note of the progress reports presented by the co-ordinators of the Action Themes and, regarding the activities of the Council of Europe contributing to the implementation of the Pan-European Strategy, made the following observations:

a) Regarding Action Theme 1 "Development of the Pan-European Ecological Network", the Council for the Strategy:

-    expressed its satisfaction about the activities carried out and the progress made in developing the Pan-European Ecological Network and considered that these were essential in ensuring effective links between Action Theme 1 and other Action Themes (Action Theme 2 in particular);

-    noted the interest shown by several governments for the activities of the Pan-European Ecological Network;

-    thanked the governments that made financial contributions for the implementation of the Pan-European Ecological Network and also thanked Belgium for offering to host the 2^nd International Symposium of the Pan-European Ecological Network in 2000, on "The participation of local and regional authorities in nature conservation".

b) Regarding Action Theme 2 "Integration of biological and landscape diversity considerations into sectors concerned", the Council for the Strategy took note of:

-    the activities carried out as part of the Committee for the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of biological and landscape diversity (CO-DBP) regarding tourism and environment on the one hand, and transport and environment on the other, which represent a contribution to the implementation of Action Theme 2 of the Pan-European Strategy.

c) Regarding Action Theme 3 "Raising awareness of decision-makers and the public", the Council for the Strategy:

-    expressed its satisfaction at the work undertaken by the three organisations responsible for this Action Theme (Council of Europe, IUCN and ECNC) and encouraged them to carry on in this way, reinforcing the synergy between the various initiatives existing in this field;

-    encouraged the initiatives supporting the transfer of information and partnerships;

-    expressed the wish that information be distributed effectively among the New Independent States and particularly the states of Central Asia;

-    welcomed the proposals of the Netherlands to continue supporting Action Theme 3.

d) Regarding Action Theme 4 "Landscapes", the Council for the Strategy:

-    noted the importance the Action Theme on landscapes had acquired;

-    expressed its satisfaction at the converging of the various ongoing activities under the authority of the Council of Europe (draft European Landscape Convention) and as part of ECNC (draft Action plan on landscapes), and accepted the offer of these two organisations to co-ordinate the activities related to Action Theme 4;

-    welcomed the fact that the draft European Landscape Convention provides for the Convention to be open to the accession of European States non-members of the Council of Europe;

-    welcomed the support offered by Switzerland to the ongoing co-ordination activities and took note of its interest for the draft European Landscape Convention as well as its wish to widen the circle of States participating in activities related to landscapes.

e) Regarding Action Theme 5 "Coastal and marine ecosystems", the Council for the Strategy:

-    took note of the fact that the Committee for the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of biological and landscape diversity (CO-DBP) decided on 19 April 1999 to transmit the Model Law on sustainable management of coastal zones and the European Code of conduct of coastal zones to the Committee of Ministers so that it may take note of it "as a source of inspiration for national legislation and practice".

f) Regarding Action Theme 11 "Threatened species", the Council for the Strategy:

-   welcomed the synergy achieved in the framework of the activities concerning Action Theme 11;

-    considered that the work undertaken and the documents drawn up as part of Action Theme 11 were fundamental reference documents for all the other Action Themes of the Pan-European Strategy;

-    expressed the wish that the Bern Convention Secretariat reinforces its contacts with States of Central Asia and keeps them informed of ongoing activities;

-    encouraged the States of Central Asia to request from the Council of Europe an observer status at the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention or to accede to this Convention.

g) Regarding the Web site of the Pan-European Strategy (Strategy Guide), the Council for the Strategy thanked the ECNC representative, as well as the various partners involved, for the work carried out in setting up the Web site for the Pan-European Strategy.

5. Regarding the Guidelines for the development of the Pan-European Ecological Network, the Council for the Strategy adopted the Guidelines for the development of the Pan-European Ecological Network.

6. The Council for the Strategy approved the proposals of revision of the Committee of Experts for the Development of the Pan-European Ecological Network and decided to transmit to the Committee of Ministers the revised terms of reference, as they appear in Appendix 3 to the present report, for approval.

7. Regarding the future of the Pan-European Strategy and the follow-up to the decisions taken at the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus "An Environment for Europe" (June 1998), the Council for the Strategy approved some of the items concerning the structure and the organisation of the Pan-European Strategy process, the programme of activities and the links with other initiatives and bodies.

8. Regarding the second Programme of Activities 1999-2000 of the Pan-European Strategy, the Council for the Strategy decided:

-    regarding the priority activities in the framework of the Pan-European Strategy, to review Action Themes 0.2 and 1 to 4 in the period 1999-2000, while considering the work on threatened species undertaken under Action Theme 11 as fundamental for the other actions, which means that existing activities already financed under the Action Themes on ecosystems and species must be maintained and, if possible, reinforced;

-    regarding strategic priorities per Action Theme, to ask the joint Secretariat (Council of Europe and UNEP) to draft a second Work Programme based on the previously mentioned considerations, and taking into account strategic priorities.

9. Regarding the organisation of a Conference on sustainable agriculture and biological and landscape diversity, the Council for the Strategy:

-    considered that the organisation of a Conference on agriculture and environment would be of great importance for biological and landscape diversity and that it should be conducted in relation to the activities of the Convention on Biological Diversity on the one hand, and deal with biological as well as landscape diversity aspects, on the other hand;

-    expressed the wish that the organisation of such a Conference would allow to involve not only representatives from the ministries of Environment and Agriculture, but also other organisations concerned (OECD, FAO, WTO, EU as well as NGOs active in this field, such as BirdLife and ECNC);

-    decided that the meeting could take place in September 1999, at the invitation of a country member of the Group, and that the work of the Group would be reported to the Bureau of the Council for the Strategy in November 1999.

10. Regarding the Service for implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans, the Council for the Strategy decided to support it and wished every success to the organisations participating in the establishment of the Service.

11. Regarding the future Clearing House mechanism for the European Union in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Council for the Strategy:

-    expressed the wish that the activities towards implementing the Clearing House mechanism should continue to be well co-ordinated with the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy; and

-    asked the Secretariat to keep up its contacts in this respect.

12. Regarding the preliminary examination of the second five-year Action Plan 2001-2005, the Council for the Strategy:

-    decided to invite the governments to send proposals to the Secretariat (before 1 September 1999), regarding in particular:

* the possibility to create new Action Themes and/or to remove Action Themes from the first Action Plan;

* the update of the Action Themes of the first Action Plan;

-    instructed the Secretariat to contact the organisations and governments responsible for the implementation of the Action Themes and to ask them to make proposals towards the update of the Action Themes of the first Action Plan;

-    instructed the Secretariat to draft a second Action Plan 2001-2005 for discussion and possible adoption at its next meeting.

13. Regarding resources and funding activities, the Council for the Strategy decided to draw up a funding plan for the Strategy and expressed the wish to be informed of the results of the evaluation that will be carried out at its next meeting.

14. Regarding the draft Memorandum of co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Council for the Strategy:

-    took note of the Memorandum of co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and expressed great interest in the reinforcement of the co-operation between the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy and the Convention on Biological Diversity;

-    expressed a wish that the draft Memorandum of co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as it appears in Appendix 4 to the present report, should be signed shortly by the Executive Secretary of the CBD, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Europe, and to this end, asked the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to authorise its Secretary General to sign it

.

15. Regarding a possible co-operation with the Project Preparation Committee (PPC), the Council for the Strategy:

-    encouraged the governments of Central and Eastern European States participating in the implementation of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy to submit to the Project Preparation Committee (PPC) investment projects for biological and landscape diversity issues and asked them to keep the Secretariat of the Pan-European Strategy informed of it;

-    expressed the wish to be kept informed about any further developments in the matter.

16. Regarding the organisation of a joint meeting with a view to preparing the fifth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (June 2000), the Council for the Strategy:

-    welcomed the proposal from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to organise a joint meeting with a view to preparing the fifth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;

-    thanked the Netherlands for offering to possibly host the preparatory meeting, and the Council of Europe and Latvia for their offer to possibly host the meeting;

-    considered that the meeting could take place before the Council for the Strategy meeting, in April 2000;

-    considered that it would be useful to involve the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in its preparation, as well as the joint Secretariat of the Pan-European Strategy (Council of Europe and UNEP).

17. Regarding the members of the Bureau of the Council, the two Vice-Chairs represent the host countries of the previous and the next ministerial Conference "An Environment for Europe". They are Mr Veit KOESTER (Denmark) and Mrs Vira DAVYDOK (Ukraine).

The Council for the Strategy elected by acclamation the other members of the Bureau:

-    Mr Peter SKOBERNE (Slovenia), Chairman of the Council for the Strategy;

-    Mrs Véronique HERRENSCHMIDT (France), member of the Bureau of the Council for the Strategy;

-    Mr John ANGELL (United Kingdom), member of the Bureau of the Council for the Strategy.

18. The Council for the Strategy decided to hold its next meeting in Strasbourg, mid-April 2000.

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Albania/Albanie

Mr Arben PUSTINA, Ministry of Health, TIRANA (apologised for absence/excusé)

Andorra/Andorre

Ms Natàlia ROVIRA MOLNÉ, Ministère de l’Agriculture et l’Environnement, ANDORRA LA VELLA (apologised for absence/excusée)

Armenia/Arménie

Mrs Tatyana DANIELYAN, Ministry of Nature Protection, YEREVAN

Austria/Autriche

Mr Heimo METZ, Amt der burgenländischen Landesregierung, EISENSTADT

Azerbaijan/Azerbaïdjan

Mr Aziz NADJAFOV, State Committee on Ecology and Nature Utilization Control, BAKU

Belarus

Ms. Olga ZHARSKAYA, Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, MINSK

Belgium/Belgique

Mr Jacques STEIN, Ministère de la région wallonne, JAMBES (Namur)

Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bosnie-Herzégovine

Bulgaria/Bulgarie

Mr Hristo BOJINOV, Ministry of the Environment and Waters, SOFIA

Canada

Croatia/Croatie

Cyprus/Chypre

Czech republic/République tchèque

Mrs Milena ROUDNA, Ministry of Environment, PRAGUE

Mr Jan PLESNÍK, Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic, PRAGUE

Denmark/Danemark

Mr Veit KOESTER, National Forestry and Nature Agency, COPENHAGEN

Mr Soren Mark JENSEN, Ministry of Environment and Energy, COPENHAGEN

Estonia/Estonie

Mr Mart KULVIK, Institute of Environmental Protection, TARTU

Finland/Finlande

Mr Lauri NORDBERG, Mrs. Marina von WEISSENBERG, Ministry of the Environment, HELSINKI

France

Mme Véronique HERRENSCHMIDT, Ministère de l’Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement, PARIS

Georgia/Géorgie

Germany/Allemagne

Mr Dirk SCHWENZFEIER, Dr. Rudolf SPECHT, Bundesministerium Für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorischerheit, BONN

Greece/Grèce

Mrs Sofia MARKOPOULOU, Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, ATHENS

Hungary/Hongrie

Mrs Louise LAKOS, (Chair/Présidente), Mrs Rozalia ERDI SZEKERES, Ministry of Environment and Regional Policy, BUDAPEST

Iceland/Islande

Ireland/Irlande

Mr Patrick GILHEANEY, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, DUBLIN

Israel

Italy/Italie

Arch. Giovanna ROSSI, Ministero dell’Ambiente, ROMA

Mr Luca ODOVAINE, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, ROMA

Kazakhstan

Ms. Lyailya YERMEKBAYEVA, Mr. Igor GLUKHOVTSEV, Public Centre on Biodiversity Conservation, ALMATY

Kyrgyzstan/Kirghizistan

Mr Kabylbek JUMALIEV, Ministry for Environmental Protection, BISHKEK

Latvia/Lettonie

Mrs Ilona JEPSEN, Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development, RIGA

Liechtenstein

Lithuania/Lituanie

Mr Selemonas PALTANAVICIUS, Ministry of Environmental Protection, VILNIUS

(apologised for absence/excusé)

Luxembourg

Malta/Malte

Mr Joe SULTANA, Environment Protection Department, FLORIANA

Moldova

Mr Valentin BOBEICA, Ministry of Environment, Chisinau

Monaco

M. Patrick VAN KLAVEREN, Villa Girasole, MONACO

Netherlands/Pays-Bas

Mr Peter BOS, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, THE HAGUE

Norway/Norvège

Poland/Pologne

Ms Barbara SZULCZEWSKA, Ms Justyna LUNDORFF, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry, WARSAW

Portugal

Mr José Manuel SILVA MARQUES, Ms Ana Isabel QUEIROZ, ICN, LISBOA

Romania/Roumanie

Mme Adriana BAZ, Ministère des Eaux, des Forêts et de la Protection de l'Environnement, BUCAREST

Russian Federation/Fédération de Russie

Mrs Zinaida MUZYLEVA, State Committee of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, MOSCOW

San marino/Saint Marin

Mr Paolo RONDELLI, Ministry of Environment, Republic of San Marino

Slovakia/Slovaquie

Mr Peter STRAKA, Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, BRATISLAVA

Slovenia/Slovénie

Mr Peter SKOBERNE, Ministrstvo zo okolje in prostor, LJUBLJANA

Spain/Espagne

Mr Benigno ASENSIO, Direccion general de Conservacion de la Naturaleza, MADRID

Sweden/Suède

Switzerland/Suisse

Mr Raymond Pierre LEBEAU, Mr Robert LAMB, Mr Olivier BIBER, Office fédéral de l'environnement, des forêts et du paysage, BERNE

Ms Brigitte DECRAUSAZ, Office fédéral de l’agriculture, BERNE

"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"/"l'ex-république yougoslave de Macédoine"

Mrs Antoaneta BUKLESKA-RALEVSKA, Ministry of Environment, SKOPJE

Tadjikistan/Tadjikistan

Mr Khurshed DADABAYEV, Ministry of Nature Conservation, DUSHANBE

Turkey/Turquie

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Ms Vira DAVYDOK, Ministry for Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety of Ukraine, KYIV

United kingdom/Royaume-Uni

Mr Roger PRITCHARD, Mr John ANGELL, European Wildlife Division, BRISTOL

Mr Richard LEAFE, English Nature, PETERBOROUGH

USA

Uzbekistan/Ouzbekistan

Mr. Aleksandr FILATOV, State Committee for Nature Protection, TASHKENT

OBSERVERS/OBSERVATEURS

Congrès des pouvoirs locaux et régionaux de l’Europe (CPLRE)/Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE)

Mr. Riccardo PRIORE, Administrator, Council of Europe

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe/Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe

Ministerial Conference on the protection of forests in Europe /

Conférence ministérielle sur la protection des forêts en Europe

Dr. Christopher WILDBURGER, Expert on Conservation Issues, VIENNA

European Commission (EC) / Commission européenne (CE)

Mr Bruno JULIEN, Direction Générale XI, BRUXELLES

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (un-ece) / Commission économique pour l'Europe des Nations Unies

Mr Mikhail KOKINE, Environment and Human Settlements Division, GENEVA

FAO

Mr J. PEREZ DE VEGA, ROME, (apologised for absence/excusé)

UNESCO

OEDC/OCDE

European Environment Agency / Agence européenne pour l'environnement

Ms Ulla PINBORG, EEA, KOBENHAVN

Convention on Biological Diversity (RIO)/Convention sur la diversité biologique (RIO)

(apologised for absence/excusé)

Barcelona Convention/Convention de Barcelone

Bucarest Convention/Convention de Bucarest

Bonn Convention / Convention de Bonn

Mr. Robert VAGG, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), BONN

Bern Convention/Convention de Berne

M. Gianluca SILVESTRINI, Administrator, Council of Europe

Ramsar Convention/Convention de Ramsar

Mr Tim JONES, GLAND

The World Bank

BERD

WWF

NEFCO

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) / Union mondiale pour la nature (UICN)

Mrs Liz HOPKINS, Ms Isabel RIPA JULIA, IUCN European Regional Office, TILBURG

Mr Vladimir MOSHKALO, IUCN Subregional Office for the CIS, MOSCOW

European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC) / Centre européen pour la conservation de la nature (CECN)

Mr Rob WOLTERS, European Centre for Nature Conservation, TILBURG

The Environmental Ngo Coalition/Coalition Des Organisations Non Gouvernementales Environnementales

Mrs Ioulia GORELOVA, Biodiversity Conservation Centre, MOSCOW

Working Group for Establishment of Ecological Network in Northern Eurasia /

Groupe de travail pour la mise en oeuvre du réseau écologique en Eurasie du nord

Mr Nikolai Andreevitch SOBOLEV, Co-ordinator of Regional Ecological Networks, MOSCOW

Regional Environmental Center for Eastern and Central Europe (REC)

Centre Régional pour l'environnement pour l'Europe centrale et orientale

Mrs Mira MILEVA, SZLUTENDRE, Hungary

Birdlife International

(apologised for absence/excusée)

Centre européen d’intérêt rural et environnemental (CEIRE)/Rurality-Environment-Development (R.E.D)

Mr Patrice COLLIGNON, R.E.D., ATTERT, Belgium

European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC)/Union européenne pour la conservation des côtes (UECC)

Mr Pat DOODY, HUNTINGDON, United Kingdom

FACE

(apologised for absence/excusé)

GLOBE

Fondation pour l’éducation à l’environnement en Europe (FEE)

Fédération des parcs naturels et nationaux d’Europe (FNNPE)

International Convention for the protection of the Alps/Convention internationale pour la protection des Alpes (cipra)

SECRETARIAT - Council of Europe/Conseil de l'Europe - Environment Conservation and Management Division/Division de la Protection et de la Gestion de l'Environnement

Mr. Tarcisio BASSI, Deputy Director of Environment and Local Authorities; Mr Eladio FERNANDEZ-GALIANO, Head i.a. of Division / Chef i.a. de Division ; Mrs Maguelonne DEJEANT-PONS, Principal Administrator / Administrateur principal ; Ms Cathie McQUISTON, Secretary / Secrétaire

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/ROE) / Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement (PNUE/BRE)

Mr Frits SCHLINGEMANN, Director and Regional Representative ; Mr Sipi JAAKKOLA, Senior Scientific Officer ; Mrs Alla METELITSA, Consultant

* * *

Mr Graham DRUCKER, Strategy Support Officer, European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC), TILBURG, The Netherlands

APPENDIX 2

AGENDA

1. Opening of the meeting by the Chair of the Council

2. Adoption of the agenda

3. Amendment of the rules of procedure

for taking into consideration the new terms of reference of the Bureau of the Council

4. Progress made in the implementation the Pan-European Strategy

4.1. Progress reports of the coordinators of the Action Themes of the Pan-European Strategy

4.2. Possible adoption of the Guidelines for the development of the Pan-European Ecological Network (Action Theme 1) and proposal of adoption of the revised terms of reference of the Committee of Experts for the Development of the Pan-European Ecological Network

5. Where to go next: future of the Pan-European Strategy process.

Follow-up to the decisions taken at the Ministerial Conference in Aarhus, "An Environment in Europe" (June 1998)

6. Programme of activities

6.1. Activities for 1999-2000

6.2. Preliminary discussion on a second five-year Action Plan 2001-2005

7. Resources and funding activities

8. Co-operation with other organisations and financial institutions

9.    Election of the members of the Bureau of the Council

10. Date and place of the next meeting and other business

 

 

APPENDIX 3

Terms of reference of the Committee for the Development of the

Pan-European Ecological Network (Action Theme 1 of the Pan-European Strategy),

as revised by the Council for the Pan-European Biological and

Landscape Diversity Strategy  (STRA-CO) on 21 April 1999

 

1. Name of the Committee:

2. Type of committee:

3. Source of terms of reference:

4. Specific terms of reference:

a. carry out the programme for the development of the Pan-European Ecological Network. To this end, the Committee may propose the setting-up of expert groups on highly specific topics and call on the services of consultants;

b. foster co-operation between the states and international (governmental and non-governmental) organisations participating in the implementation of Action Theme 1;

c. draw up one or more progress reports on Action Theme 1 for adoption by the STRA-CO with a view to forwarding them to the "An Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference(s);

d. present to the STRA-CO proposals for activities promoting the implementation of Action Theme 1;

e. advise the CO-DBP on the implementation of the resolutions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe concerning the European Network of Biogenetic Reserves.

5. Membership of the committee:

a. All the governments of the member States of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe are invited to appoint experts. The travel and subsistence expenses of experts of Council of Europe member States, or with special guest status with the Parliamentary Assembly will be defrayed from the Organisation's budget.

b. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe may send a representative without the right of vote.

c. The European Union, OECD, UNESCO, FAO, UN-ECE, UNEP and IUCN may send a representative, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

d. The following organisations are invited to send a representative, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses: [list to be supplemented by the Executive Bureau]

Secretariats of the Barcelona, Bern, Bonn (and of its Agreements), Bucharest,

Biological Diversity and Ramsar conventions;

European Environment Agency (EEA);

Economic Union Benelux;

European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC);

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC);

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP);

European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC);

European Habitats Forum;

The Environmental NGO Coalition;

BirdLife International;

Euronatur;

Eurosite;

International Socio-Ecological Union;

Biostan;

Central and Eastern European Working Group on Enhancement of Biodiversity (CEEWEB);

Black Sea Forum;

AIDEnvironment;

International Association "Rurality-Environment-Development" (RED).

6. Duration:

Unlimited.

APPENDIX 4

Draft Memorandum of co-operation between the Secretariat

of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Council of Europe and

the United Nations Environment Programme , in their capacity  of Joint Secretariat

to the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy,

of which the Council for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape

Diversity Strategy (STRA-CO) took note on 21 April 1999

 

Reaffirming the importance of, and the need to promote international, regional and global co-operation as well as synergy at all levels for the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components,

Recognizing the importance of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, (hereafter called "the Pan-European Strategy") as a regional contribution and one of the instruments for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereafter called "CBD"), and for the promotion of the Convention’s objectives,

Recalling that Paragraph 1(d) of Article 24 of the Convention on Biological Diversity provides that a function of the Secretariat of the Convention is to co-ordinate with other relevant international bodies and, in particular, to enter into such administrative and contractual arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions,

Recalling further decision IV/15 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) which reaffirmed the importance of developing mutually supportive activities under the Convention and those undertaken by other international institutions,

Recalling further decisions II/13, III/21 and IV/15 of the COP which request the Executive Secretary to continue to co-ordinate with relevant institutions, with a view to, inter alia: facilitating the exchange of information and experience; and consulting on how such bodies can contribute to the implementation of the provisions of the CBD,

Noting that the 2nd Meeting of the Council for the Pan-European Strategy (Strasbourg, 6 and 8 April 1998) requested the Council of Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme (hereafter called "UNEP"), in their capacity as Joint Secretariat to the Pan-European Strategy, to conclude a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Secretariat of the CBD,

Aware that at both the intergovernmental and secretariats’ levels, co-operation in the implementation of the CBD and the Pan-European Strategy is ongoing and that the need for similar and intensified synergies is required,

Therefore, the Council of Europe and UNEP in their capacity as Joint Secretariat to the Pan-European Strategy and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereafter called "the Secretariats") will consult each other on matters of common interest to the Secretariats with a view to ensuring maximum co-ordination of their respective work and activities.

It is understood that the Council of Europe, UNEP and the Secretariat of the CBD will act, within the terms of this agreement, according to their respective rules and regulations.

The Secretariats hereby agree upon the following:

 

Article 1. Institutional co-operation

(a) In accordance with procedures applicable to each meeting or conference, the Secretariats will invite each other to send representatives to meetings or conferences convened by or under the auspices of the other to consider matters in which they have a common interest.

(b) The Secretariats will inform their respective Parties’ national focal points of their co-operative activities and will seek to promote consultation and co-operation between focal points in those Parties where the focal points for the CBD and the Pan-European Strategy are different, including the preparation of national reports or communications for the COP and the Council for the Pan-European Strategy.

(c) The Secretariats may consult, where appropriate, on the use of personnel, materials, service, equipment and facilities for joint undertakings, which may be agreed between them in common fields of interest.

 

Article 2. Regional Meetings

The Secretariats will further develop the regional meetings which they have co-organised in the past, with a view to promoting the implementation of both the Pan-European Strategy and the CBD, as well as synergy between the two processes.

 

Article 3. Reporting

(a) The Secretariats will consult with their Parties with a view to encouraging governments to consider including possible reporting on the Pan-European Strategy as inputs to the National Reports required by the CBD.

(b) The Secretariats will report on progress in the implementation of the Pan-European Strategy and the CBD to the Council for the Pan-European Strategy and to the COP respectively.

 

Article 4. Co-ordination of Programmes of Work

Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for safeguarding confidential information, the Secretariats will exchange information and keep each other informed of projected activities and programmes of work in fields of common interest. Accordingly, when either Secretariat proposes to initiate a programme or activity on a matter of mutual interest, they will endeavour to consult the other Secretariat with a view to harmonising their efforts as far as possible, taking into account their respective responsibilities and any decisions or wishes of the appropriate governing bodies of the respective Secretariat.

 

Article 5. Joint Action

(a) The Secretariats will enhance their capacities to represent each other, upon request, at meetings or other activities and provide assistance to each other at their respective headquarters in Strasbourg/Geneva and Montreal.

(b) The Secretariats will institute measures to ensure consultations on the implementation of this Memorandum. To this end, the Executive Secretary of the CBD, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Europe will endeavour to ensure regular contact between the staff of their respective organisations, including the possibility of exchanges of staff on a temporary basis.

(c) The Secretariats will institute measures for consultation on the implementation of this Memorandum and will report accordingly to their respective governing bodies and seek further guidance on new areas of co-operation.

 

Article 6. Non-Binding Nature of the Agreement

(a) It is further agreed that nothing in this agreement shall bind any of the Contracting Parties of the CBD jointly or severally. Similarly, the agreement shall not bind any of the States participating in the implementation of the Pan-European Strategy jointly or severally.

(b) Any additional annexes to this Memorandum shall form an integral part of this Memorandum and, unless otherwise expressly provided for, a reference to this Memorandum constitutes, at the same time, a reference to any annexes thereto.

Article 7. Revision and Termination

This agreement shall be subject to revision on acceptance of the Secretariats, and by giving six months written notice to the other party.

Either Secretariat may terminate this agreement by giving six months written notice to the other party.

Article 8. Entry into Force

This agreement shall be deemed to have come into force on signature by the Executive Secretary of the CBD, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Europe. It will be transmitted for information to the Council for the Pan-European Strategy and the COP.