Seventh Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

On Thursday morning, MOP7 participants resumed discussions on the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus. They welcomed the publication “Reconciling Different Resource Uses in Transboundary Basins: Assessment of the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus” and encouraged countries to apply the nexus approach.

In discussion of the global opening of the Water Convention, delegates heard that more than 60 non-UNECE countries have participated in Water Convention activities, including regional events and national workshops. Several delegates from non-UNECE countries expressed interest in acceding to the Convention or ratifying it. Many delegates requested support for capacity building, and cooperation to organize regional workshops in Latin America and Africa.

Delegates adopted the programme of work for 2016-2018 and approved the requested budget of US$ 8.7 million. They discussed cooperation with partners and achievements under the Protocol on Water and Health, and heard a report on the informal gathering of parties to the UN Watercourses Convention in Paris in September 2015.

Kazakhstan announced its preparations to host the International Water Assessment Center, and offered to host MOP8.

At the close of the meeting, delegates adopted a package of decisions by acclamation and elected the new Chair, Vice-Chairs and bureau members. Outgoing MOP Chair Massimo Cozzone expressed his appreciation to all colleagues for their contributions, and to the Convention secretariat and the Hungarian hosts.

Incoming MOP Chair Peter Kovacs (Hungary) noted that MOP7 was a milestone in the history of the Convention as it marked the starting point of the global opening of the Convention. He welcomed the solutions offered by countries outside the UNECE region who have a strong commitment to implementing the Convention, highlighting the shared objective of improving transboundary cooperation. He closed the meeting at 4:52 pm.