Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP11), Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP6), Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP6) and Second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the three Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2)

Basel Convention COP11, Rotterdam Convention COP6, Stockholm Convention COP6, and the second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) convened for its first day on Sunday, 28 April 2013.

In the morning delegates participated in the opening ceremony of the three ordinary and extraordinary COPs, adopted the ExCOPs agenda, addressed organizational matters, and initiated discussion on enhancing cooperation and collaboration among the conventions.

During the afternoon, delegates initiated consideration of technical assistance and financial resources in Simultaneous Sessions of the Ordinary COPs, and forwarded further discussions to a contact group.

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Basel Convention COP11, Rotterdam Convention COP6, Stockholm Convention COP6, and the simultaneous ordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions convened for its second day on Monday, 29 April 2013.

In the morning, delegates completed their discussion on financial resources, and established a Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources. They also discussed waste issues related to POPs.

During the afternoon, delegates discussed legal and compliance issues related to the three conventions.

The Contact Group on Budget and Synergies convened throughout the day. The Contact Group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources met in the afternoon.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions convened for a third day on Tuesday, 30 April 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under SC COP5.

During the morning, SC COP5 addressed organizational matters and rules of procedure, and initiated discussions on listing hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed POPRC developments, National Implementation Plans (NIPs), and exemptions.

In the morning, contact groups met on Compliance and Other Legal Matters as well as Budget and Synergies. These two groups also convened in the afternoon, along with a contact group on Technical Assistance and Financial Resources. A fourth contact group, on HBCD, met in the evening.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions convened for a fourth day on Wednesday, 1 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under SC COP6.

During the morning, SC COP6 addressed effectiveness evaluation and initiated discussions on DDT. They also discussed issues related to unintentionally produced Persistent Organic Pollutants (uPOPs), including the updating of the Standardized Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Dioxin and Furan Releases, and guidelines on Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP).

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed issues related to PCBs and other matters.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, and Listing of Chemicals, and on New POPs met throughout the day.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention and Stockholm Convention convened for a fifth day on Thursday, 2 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary to consider issues under Stockholm Convention COP6.

During the morning Stockholm Convention COP6 “virtually” adopted decisions on: effectiveness evaluation; technical assistance; exemptions; endosulfan; and BDEs, PFOS its salts, and PFOSF.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants "virtually" adopted the draft decision listing HBCD and the report of the meeting.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources met throughout the day.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a sixth day on Friday, 3 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues remaining under SC COP6 and then moving onto issues under BC COP11.  

During the morning, SC COP6 adopted decisions on reporting, exemptions, effectiveness evaluation, implementation plans, and measures to reduce or eliminate releases from unintentional production.

Delegates then turned their attention to the BC COP11 agenda, focusing on technical guidelines and the Indonesian-Swiss Country-led Initiative to improve the effectiveness of the BC.

During the afternoon plenary session, participants discussed environmentally-sound dismantling of ships, and the operations and work programme of the BC Open-Ended Working Group.

Contact groups continued on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, and new contact groups were convened on Strategic Matters and Technical Matters.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a seventh day on Saturday, 4 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues under BC COP11.  

During the morning, BC COP11 addressed issues related to international cooperation, coordination and partnerships, including the BC Partnership Programme and cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

During the afternoon plenary, delegates discussed capacity-building, follow-up to the Indonesian-Swiss Country-Led Initiative and BC Regional and Coordinating Centres, and agreed to a framework for the environmentally-sound management of hazardous wastes.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, Strategic Matters and Technical Matters met throughout the day.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for an eighth day on Monday, 6 May 2013. Delegates met throughout the day in plenary, considering issues under BC COP11.

During the morning, BC COP11 “virtually” adopted decisions on:
Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE); technical guidelines for environmentally-sound management of mercury wastes; resource mobilization and sustainable financing; and the process for evaluating the performance and sustainability of BC regional and coordinating centres.

During the afternoon, plenary reconvened briefly, "virtually" adopting a decision on cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and adopting the report of the meeting. Participants agreed to reconvene BC COP11 on Tuesday, 7 May, to consider outstanding matters.

Contact groups on Compliance and Legal Matters, Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources, Strategic Matters, and Technical Matters, met throughout the day.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a ninth day on Tuesday, 7 May 2013. Delegates convened in the morning and afternoon in plenary to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6, and reconvened in the late afternoon to address outstanding issues under Basel Convention COP11.

In the morning, RC COP6 considered: organizational matters, including organization of work and credentials; Rules of Procedure; and the programme of work and budget. Delegates also began consideration of chemicals for inclusion in Annex III to the Convention. The COP postponed the election of officers.

In the afternoon, RC COP6 resumed discussion on consideration of chemicals for inclusion in Annex III, and BC COP11 convened for a brief plenary session to “virtually” adopt decisions on: follow-up to the CLI; technical guidelines for ESM of POPs wastes; continuing work on technical guidelines for e-waste; amendments to the Annexes of the BC; the OEWG; and admission of observers.

Contact groups also met throughout the day, on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals. An informal group on the draft Ministerial Declaration also met.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a tenth day on Wednesday, 8 May 2013. Delegates convened in the morning and afternoon in plenary to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6.

In the morning, RC COP6 considered: the Chemical Review Committee; status of implementation; trade; and official communications.

During the afternoon, RC COP6 agreed to list octaBDE commercial mixtures and pentaBDE commercial mixtures in Annex III of the Convention. RC COP6 also took decisions on financial resources and technical assistance.

Contact groups also met throughout the day, on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals. An informal group on the draft Ministerial Declaration also met.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for an eleventh day on Thursday, 9 May 2013.

Delegates convened in the morning to consider issues under Rotterdam Convention COP6, “virtually” adopting a decision to list PFOS and its related chemicals in Annex III of the Convention.

During the afternoon, participants attended the opening of the high-level segment. The second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) then resumed, and after lengthy discussions agreed, to adopt the Bureau's compromise proposal on credentials.

During the evening, delegates reconvened in plenary to formally adopt decisions "virtually" adopted under Stockholm Convention COP6 and Basel Convention COP11.

Contact groups also met throughout the day on Budget and Synergies, Technical Assistance and Financial Resources and Listing of Chemicals.

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The Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of the COPs to the Basel Convention (BC), Rotterdam Convention (RC) and Stockholm Convention (SC) convened for a twelfth and final day on Friday, 10 May 2013.

During the morning, delegates convened in plenary to hear reports from the ministers on the outcomes of Thursday’s ministerial roundtables.  

During the afternoon, participants convened in plenary to formally adopt outstanding decisions. Plenary was suspended at 7:00 pm to allow delegates to continue last minute negotiations on the preamble of the omnibus decision on synergies.

Contact groups also met throughout the day on Budget and Synergies and Technical Assistance and Financial Resources in an effort to complete their work.

7:10 pm - delegates will return to plenary at 8:30 pm to discuss outstanding matters: budget; compliance; the omnibus decision on synergies; and the date and venue of the next COPs.

9:37 pm - plenary reconvenes focusing on date and venue of next meeting.

10:57 pm - SC COP6 President Alvarez proposes a take-it-or-leave-it compromise package to establish compliance mechanisms for the Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions, and delegates take a 30-minute break to read the text and consult.

11:34 pm - compliance "take-it-or-leave-it" text rejected.

11:50pm - SC COP6 closed.

11:51pm - RC COP6 closed.

11:58pm - BC COP11 and ExCOPs closed.

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The IISD RS summary and analysis of the meeting will be available on Monday, 13 May 2013.