BUREAU DECISIONS: Organization of work during the Sixth session of the CSD and 1998 meetings of its Ad hoc Working Groups. (Recommendations of the CSD Bureau meeting held on 21 January 1998)

I. State of preparations of documentation.

1. The Secretariat briefed the Bureau on the state of preparation of documentation for the Sixth session of the CSD and of its Ad hoc Working Groups (informal list of documents is contained in Annex I). The Bureau noted that due to a number of practical reasons, i.e. timing of meetings the results of which need to be reflected in the documentation, etc, it will not be possible to meet the normal six-week deadline. The Bureau expressed its hope that all official documents of the Commission will issued in all UN languages well in advance of the meetings. The Secretariat will be making the advance unedited texts available for delegations as soon as they are finalized.

2. As for the expected timing of such advance texts, it was noted that all reports prepared by the Secretariat for consideration by the Ad hoc Working Groups will be finalized by the end of January, 1998; while the reports prepared for the CSD itself by early March 1998. Various background papers prepared by the Secretariat for information purposes will be completed closer to the beginning of the meetings to ensure that they are as up to date as possible.

II 1998 meetings of Inter-sessional working groups of the CSD

3. The Bureau recommended that the inter-sessional meetings of the CSD should start with the Ad hoc Inter-sessional Working Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management (New York, 23-27 February, 1998), which will be followed by the Ad hoc Inter-sessional Working Group on Industry and Sustainable Development (New York, 2-6 March, 1998). The recommended organization of work is contained in Annex II.

4. As for the chairmanship of Ad hoc Groups, the Bureau, taking into account the new pattern of elections of the Commission’s Bureau, recommended that each of the Groups will be led by two Co-Chairs - one from among the members of the Bureau of the CSD and one from the Commission’s Member which is not represented on the Bureau. In accordance with the tradition established in the CSD one Co-Chair in each of the Groups will be from a developed and another from a developing country. The Bureau will consult which of the four vice-chairs will act as the Co-Chairs of the Ad-hoc Groups. The Bureau also invited regional groups to consider possible candidatures for the Co-Chairmanship, as appropriate.

5. The Bureau reconfirmed the recommendation of the Bureau of the Commission’s Fifth session (meeting of 2-3 October, 1997) that both Working Groups will provide for a focused consideration of matters related of transfer of technology as they relate to the theme under discussion, as well as provide for an integrated consideration of other relevant means of implementation, particularly finance. Furthermore, the Bureau reconfirmed that adequate attention will be given to the "over-riding" issues of poverty and changing consumption/production patterns in accordance with the outcome of the 1997 special session of the UNA.

6. The Bureau expressed its expectation that major groups will be actively involved in the work of the two Ad hoc Working Groups, which, inter-alia, should provide for the three major groups actively involved in the preparations for the Industry Segment (see below) to contribute to the deliberations of the Group on Industry.

7. The Bureau considered the proposals from the Secretariat regarding modalities for exchanges of national experiences in the area of sustainable water management to be held on 25 February, 1998 during the meeting of Working Group on Freshwater (see Annex III). The Bureau invited regional groups taking into account the proposals of the Secretariat, to select, by Friday January 23, 1998, countries who would make such presentations so that the Secretariat could start necessary preparations in consultation with the governments involved.

III. Sixth session of the CSD (20 April - 1 May 1998).

8. The recommendations of the Bureau on the organization of work during the Sixth session of the Commission are contained in Annex IV.

9. The Bureau continued consideration of the arrangements for the Industry Segment to be held on 21-22 April, 1998. (see Annex V). The Bureau expressed its hope that both governmental and major groups delegations will be represented during the Segment at a high level, including at the level of ministers and CEOs of private companies. The Bureau also underscored the need for a balanced representation of the corporate sector, trade unions and NGOs from developed and developing countries during the Industry Segment.

10. In follow-up to the recommendation of the previous meeting of the Bureau, it was decided that the Chairman of the Commission will write letters to member states inviting them to consider involving in the Industry Segment and/or in the High-Level Segment of ministers responsible for the issues of industry and freshwater, who could also join the ministers responsible for environment and development usually actively involved in the High-Level Segment.

IV. Involvement of NGOs and other major groups (other than in connection with the Industry Segment), as well as possible side-events during the meetings of the CSD and its Ad hoc Working Groups .

11. The Bureau underscored the need to maintain the practice of active involvement of major groups in the work of the CSD established during the previous sessions of the Commission. The Bureau also encouraged countries to include in their delegation representatives of major groups. Furthermore it was suggested that countries use such mechanisms as national sustainable development councils in formulation of their positions on issues addressed by the CSD.

12. The Bureau welcomed a number of important activities already planned by major groups for the 1998 meeting of the Commission (see Annex VI).

13. The Bureau decided that all those who plan to organize side-events during the Sixth session of the CSD (including governments, international organizations and major groups) should inform the Secretariat regarding their intentions by 1 April 1998, so that such events could be effectively scheduled.

V. Inter-sessional activities

14. The Bureau was briefed by the Secretariat regarding various inter-sessional activities organized in support of or in preparation for the Sixth session of the CSD and of the meetings of its Ad Hoc Working Groups. The Bureau was also briefed on the preparations for the second session of CSD’s Intergovernmental Forum on Forests. Matters related to public outreach where also discussed.

VI. Follow-up to ECOSOC decision on an international year of the mountains.

15. The Bureau noted that in accordance with ECOSOC resolution 1997/45 the Secretary-General, in consultation with Governments, and relevant international, regional and non-governmental organizations, will be preparing for the 1998 substantive session of ECOSOC a report on "the desirability of proclaiming an international year of mountains and on other ways and means of ensuring the sustainable development of mountain countries". The Bureau invited all interested Governments and other partners who have specific views and proposals on this matter to forward them to the Secretariat so that they can be taken into account in the preparations of the report in question. The Secretariat was also invited to bring this matter to the attention of IACSD.

VII. Next meeting of the Bureau.

The next meeting of the Bureau is tentatively scheduled to take place in mid-March 1998.

Bearing in mind active inter-sessional work of the CSD, including regular meetings of the Bureau, as well as the role CSD Bureau members play during the sessions of the CSD and of its Ad hoc Working Group, it was felt that consideration should be given to providing financial support to cover travel costs of the Bureau members, particularly from the developing countries, to attend such meetings. In the meanwhile, the Bureau invited interested donor countries to consider supporting this through voluntary extra-budgetary contributions.

Organization of work during CSD’s Ad hoc Intersessional Working Groups. (Recommended by the Bureau of the CSD) 

Ad Hoc Group on Freshwater (23-27 February, 1998)

MONDAY- MORNING

Opening of the session; election of Officers; and other organizational matters. General Discussion* based on the report of Secretary-General and other relevant inputs (the discussion may be structured along the main sections of the S-G’s report).

MONDAY -AFTERNOON General Discussion (continued)

TUESDAY- MORNING

General Discussion (continued and concluded)

TUESDAY- AFTERNOON

Discussion with a focus on Transfer of Technology in relation to

Freshwater

WEDNESDAY-MORNING

Exchanges of National Experiences on integrated water management for sustainable development. This may be organized on the basis of the previous practice - one country (CSD Member) per region; brief presentations followed by a discussion, etc.

WEDNESDAY- AFTERNOON

Exchanges of National Experiences on integrated water management for sustainable development. (Circulation of the Chair’s text with possible elements for conclusions and proposals for action on "Freshwater" (with an understanding that additional proposals to reflect the outcome of Exchanges National Experiences could be presented by the Chair next Morning)

THURSDAY-MORNING

(Possible introduction by the Chair of additional elements to the initial text to reflect the outcome of Exchanges of National Experiences)

Discussion of the Chair’s text.

THURSDAY-AFTERNOON

Discussion of the Chair’s text (continued and concluded)

FRIDAY- MORNING

(Circulation of Chair’s revised text for inclusion in the report of the Working Group)

One hour break to allow delegations to study the revised text.

Discussion of the revised draft

FRIDAY-AFTERNOON

Discussion of the Chair’s revised draft (if necessary)

Adoption of the Report of the Working Group**

Ad Hoc Group on Industry and Sustainable Development (2 - 6 March, 1998)

MONDAY- MORNING

Opening of the session; election of Officers; and other organizational matters.

General Discussion* based on the report of Secretary-General and other relevant inputs (the discussion may be structured along the main sections of the S-G’s report).

MONDAY-AFTERNOON General Discussion (continued)

TUESDAY- MORNING

General Discussion (continued and concluded)

TUESDAY- AFTERNOON

Discussion of the role of industry in the field of transfer of technology

WEDNESDAY-MORNING

Discussion of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection

WEDNESDAY-AFTERNOON

Discussion of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection (Circulation of the Chair’s text with possible conclusions and proposals for action on "Industry and Sustainable Development)

THURSDAY- MORNING

Discussion of the Chair’s text with possible conclusions and proposals for action on "Industry and Sustainable Development". (Circulation of Chair’s text with possible proposals on the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection)

THURSDAY- AFTERNOON

Discussion of the Chair’s text with possible conclusions and proposals for action on "Industry and Sustainable Development". (continued and concluded)

FRIDAY- MORNING

Discussion of the Chair’s text with possible conclusions and proposals for action on the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection (Circulation of Chair’s revised text on Industry and Sustainable Development for inclusion in the report of the Working Group)

FRIDAY-AFTERNOON

(Circulation of the Chair’s revised draft on UN Guidelines for Consumer protection for inclusion in the report of the Working Group)

Comments on Chair’s revised drafts (if necessary)

Adoption of the Report of the Working Group**

NOTES

• General discussion in both groups should provide for an integrated consideration of cross-sectoral issues as well as of financing and other relevant means of implementation (with exception of technology where a separate discussion will take place). Delegations may be invited to give attention in their statements to the "over-riding" issues of poverty and changing consumption/production patterns.

** The Nineteenth special session of the UN General Assembly underscored that "...the inter-sessional ad hoc working groups should help to focus the Commission’s sessions by identifying key elements to be discussed and important problems to be addressed within specific items of the Commission’s programme of work". In accordance with the previous practice of the CSD the reports of both Working Groups could include "Chair’s Summaries of the Discussions" that will reflect such "key elements and important problems" raised by the participants during the meetings. The Chair’s texts will not be negotiated in the Working Groups but will serve as the starting point for further discussion/negotiations in the CSD. However, bearing in mind a number of important intersessional activities, particularly in the area of freshwater, which are expected to take place between the meetings of the Working Groups and the Sixth session of the CSD, as well as possible proposals that may emanate from the Industry Segment to be held at the beginning of the CSD-6, it should be understood that the negotiations in the CSD will not be limited only to the ideas/proposals contained in the reports of the Working Groups.

Organization of work during the Sixth session of the CSD

Monday 20 April

Morning Introductory statements

Organization of work

Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management:

Introduction of the outcome of the Ad hoc Working Group and presentations of the outcomes of inter-sessional activities in support of the CSD work programme.

Afternoon Debate on the cross-sectoral cluster of: Transfer of Technology/Capacity Building/Education/Science/ Awareness Raising.

Tuesday 21 April - Wednesday 22 April

Industry Segment - an interactive high-level policy dialogue between governments and major groups with a focus on the following issues:

• Responsible entrepreneurship
• Corporate Management tools
• Technology cooperation and assessment
• Industry and Freshwater.

Thursday 23 April

Morning Debate on the cross-sectoral cluster of: Transfer of Technology/Capacity Building/Education/Science/ Awareness Raising.

Afternoon Debate on sustainable development of SIDS

Friday 24 April - Tuesday 28 April

Parallel meetings of drafting groups on decisions of the Commission. Not more than two meetings will be held simultaneously. All Working Groups are expected to reach agreement on all decisions by the end of the day of Tuesday, 28 April.

Wednesday 29 April - Friday 1 May (morning)

High Level Segment

Friday 1 May

Afternoon Conclusion of the High-Level Meeting (Chair’s summary)

Adoption of the report/decisions; agenda of the Seventh session; closure of the Sixth session.

* * *

Followed by: The First meeting of the Seventh session (To elect the Bureau of the Seventh session in accordance with the new pattern determined by ECOSOC).