UNEP ROE

Regional Consultation Meeting for Europe
31 October - 2 November 2007, Geneva
(International Environment House,
15 Chemin des Anémones, 1219 Chatelaine, Geneva, Switzerland - Conference Room #3)

Representatives of major groups of civil society met in Geneva in preparation for the 9th session of the UNEP Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF).

The European Regional Consultation meeting provided a platform for civil society participation in and contribution to the preparations for the 10th Special session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum to be held in the Principality of Monaco, from 20 to 22 February 2008.

This year representatives at the regional consultation meetings discussed policy issues related to: Globalization and the environment: Mobilizing finance to meet the climate challenge; UNEP Medium Term Strategy; Enhancing Major Groups Participation at UNEP’s Governance Level; and Global Environment Outlook 4th Assessment (GEO-4) Issues.

Several major groups were represented at the meeting, including (Women, Youth, NGOs, Local Authorities, Worker and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, and the scientific community).

Furthermore, UNEP National Committees in Europe participated in the meeting, which offered an opportunity for a broad exchange of views and networking between regional and national NGO constituencies.

The participants had the opportunity to hear from and interact with a number of regional and international groups, as well as Geneva-based international organizations working in the field of environment and sustainable development.

The meeting had a wide representation of European countries including: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.