OEWG5: THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2006

The Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention met in plenary and in three contact groups. In plenary, delegates approved a number of decisions for consideration at COP8, completing OEWG5’s consideration of most of the items on its agenda. The contact group on technical matters also completed its work, adopting decisions on technical guidelines for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and on harmonization of forms used under the Convention. The group on ship dismantling also completed its work on Thursday evening. However, the contact group on financing had not completed its work as of 11:00 pm Thursday night. While a decision on resource mobilization had been agreed, agreements remained elusive on budget issues, sustainable financing and synergies with the other chemicals-related conventions.