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Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
The International Dnipro Bain Council (subsequently referred to as the Council) has been established as part of the Dnipro Basin Environmental Rehabilitation Program and pursuant to the Project Document signed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
The Council’s main task is to set up an effective organizational mechanism for preparing and implementing the Strategic Action Program and the national action plans for the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation.
According to the Council by-law, each riparian country is represented by 23 representatives sitting on the Council, including:
1.Representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, who are chosen from among leaders and division heads of these ministries based at the ministries’ headquarters or territorial branches located throughout the Dnipro Basin;
2. Representatives of respective leading scientific and research institutions and organizations;
3.Representatives of other government bodies of the riparian countries, local self-government bodies of the riparian regions (oblasts), environmental nongovernmental organizations and other nongovernmental bodies.
The composition of each riparian country’s delegation to the Council is endorsed by a chairman of the respective national UNDP-GEF Program management committee.
As a rule, the Council conducts all its work at its sessions, which are hosted in turn by each riparian country. Council sessions are conducted if and when the need arises but at least once a year. Special (extraordinary) Council sessions may be convened at the request of a national UNDP-GEF Program management committee.
The Council considers important issues that fall within its mandate. The date and the tentative agenda of each forthcoming regular session of the Council are determined at the preceding Council session. The Council session is considered competent if it is attended by more than half of the delegates of each riparian country.
The Council publicizes its activities and ensures wide media coverage of its major work results. Council sessions are open to the general public unless the Council decides otherwise.
The Council may invite to its sessions in the capacity of observes and experts representatives of interested ministries and other central government bodies, local executive bodies, local self-government bodies, manufacturing enterprises, scientific institutions and civic organizations of the riparian countries as well as representatives from international organizations. The decision on such attendance is made by the Council.
Council’s decisions and recommendations are adopted by consensus.
During the UNDP-GEF Program implementation period, Council sessions will be conducted and the Council subsidiary bodies will operate with the financial support from the Program. Upon completion of the UNDP-GEF Program, the Council activities will be sponsored by the three riparian countries.
Pursuant to a decision adopted at the 1st Council session (held in Kiev, June 2003) the 2nd Council session was scheduled to take place in the Republic of Belarus in November-December 2003.
Thus, the foregoing shows that the Project has been implemented in accordance with the UNDP-GEF Project Document “Preparation of the Dnipro Basin Strategic Action Program and Development of Its Implementation Mechanisms”, the Council by-law and the decision adopted at its 1st session. The 2nd session was a logical continuation of the 1st session and therefore had similar objectives, that is, to support the effective implementation of the UNDP-GEF Program and to promote the preparation of the Strategic Action Program and national action plans for the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation; to develop and implement proposals for identifying cooperation priorities, promoting concerted policies geared to the improvement of the Dnipro Basin environment and developing implementation mechanisms of such policies.
In implementing this Project the EkologiaInvest institution used its experience in implementing the Program – Program Management Office (Republic of Belarus) and the Clean Production Thematic Center.
This report provides information on the Project and in particular on the Project team, technical arrangements for the session and major results of the session.
