COP4/14 Programme of work and budget of the Carpathian Convention

DECISION COP4/14

Programme of work and budget of the Carpathian Convention

The Conference of the Parties

1. Recalling its decision COP3/13 on the Programme of Work and budget of the Carpathian Convention;
2. Having considered the report of the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee  on the implementation of the Programme of Work (UNEP/CC/COP4/DOC9);
3. Takes note of the balance statement of the Trust Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention;
4. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Work, in particular the results achieved by the Working Groups on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity, on Sustainable Forest Management; on Sustainable Industry, Energy, Transport and Infrastructure, on Sustainable Tourism, on Cultural Heritage and Traditional Knowledge and by the CNPA;
5. Encourages the Parties to continue to finance their participation in meetings related to the implementation of the Programme of Work, and to share their expertise through their participation in online consultations and through providing leadership to the Working Groups;
6. Requests the Secretariat to facilitate the online consultations and information sharing by making available the appropriate tools, procedures and processes;
7. Appreciates the support provided by the “BIOREGIO Carpathians”, “ACCESS2MOUNTAIN”, ”Carpathians Unite”, “Sustainable Tourism Strategy for the Carpathians“ (CarpatSusTourStrat),” CARPIVIA”, “CarpatClim” and  “CarpathCC”;
8. Adopts the Programme of Work for 2015 - 2017 of the Carpathian Convention and welcomes the list of potential projects in support of the Programme of Work contained in Annex 1[1];
9. Adopts the Budget for 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians;
10. Adopts the revised Terms of Reference for the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee and requests CCIC to revise all Terms of References of Working Groups taking into account the contributions of the  Working Groups to the Carpathian Convention Information System;
11. Calls upon the Parties with involvement of regional and local authorities to undertake the necessary actions to promote and ensure full implementation of the Programme of Work, in consultation with and with the support of relevant institutions, international organizations and non-governmental organizations;
12. Calls upon the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention in Vienna to actively promote and service the implementation of the Programme of Work and the implementation of COP Decisions;
13. Recognizes the need and pledges to further strengthen the Secretariat given its additional tasks and responsibilities related to the implementation of the Protocol on the Protection of Biological and Landscape Diversity, including the servicing of the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas,  the implementation of the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management, the Protocol on Sustainable Tourism, the Protocol on Sustainable Transport, as well as the  possible development of new  thematic strategic documents;
14. Calls for organization of joint Working Group meetings, where possible and appropriate, for reduction of costs, interaction and cooperation issues;
15. Decides that each Party will contribute to the Trust Fund on a yearly basis in accordance with the attached scale of assessment as in Annex 2[2];