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GEF RESTRUCTURING AND SUITABILITY AS A MECHANISM:

Sweden, Belgium, on behalf of the EC, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, the US, Austria and Chile expressed confidence that the GEF would be restructured to ensure its suitability for the Convention. The Chair referred to links to the GEF as "bridge-building." He noted that the Working Group would want to transmit guidelines to the GEF. Some countries said that guidance from this Group to the first COP regarding the mechanism could serve as a signal to the GEF. Malaysia opposed relegating discussions with the GEF to the Secretariat and said the ICCBD should provide it with "instructions" rather than "guidelines."