Work programme (2018–2019)

1. National reporting

Improve timely and complete national reporting under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the Convention.

(a) Classify and, as appropriate, publish information on Parties’ compliance with their annual national reporting obligations for 2014 and 2015, based on the assumptions, criteria, categories and targets adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its thirteenth meeting;[1]

(b) Develop recommendations on the revision of targets referred to in paragraph 11 of decision BC-13/9 for the reports due for 2016 and subsequent years;

(c) Develop an updated version of the benchmark report aimed at facilitating reporting under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the Basel Convention as of the reporting year 2016, based on the revised reporting format for national reporting adopted in decision BC-12/6 as amended by decision BC-13/9;

(d) Finalize the revised version of the Committee’s guidance on improving national reporting[2] in the light of the revised reporting format adopted in decision BC-12/6 as amended by decision BC-13/9 for consideration and possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting;

(e) On the basis of, inter alia, the information contained in the national reports and possible means of technical assistance, develop recommendations for improving the timeliness and completeness of national reporting under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the Basel Convention.

Prevent and combat illegal traffic

Consider what additional steps could be taken to improve implementation of and compliance with Article 9 of the Convention.

3. National legislation

Improve implementation of and compliance with paragraph 4 of Article 4 and paragraph 5 of Article 9 of the Convention.

(a) Finalize the guide for the development of national legal frameworks to implement the Basel Convention[3] for consideration and possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting;

(b) Compile the outcome of Parties’ self-review of their legislation for implementing the Convention using the legislator’s checklist and consider general trends;

(c) Monitor progress achieved by Parties in transmitting to the Secretariat texts of national legislation and other measures adopted by them to implement and enforce the Convention;

(d) Monitor requests for information received by the Secretariat from Parties aimed at facilitating the development and review of national legal frameworks as well as the technical assistance activities of the Secretariat aimed at promoting the implementation of paragraph 4 of Article 4 and paragraph 5 of Article 9 of the Convention;

(e) Monitor activities undertaken by or with the support of the Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres, the United Nations Environment Programme and other entities aimed at assisting Parties to develop legal frameworks for the implementation of the Basel Convention.

4. Insurance, bond, guarantee

Improve the implementation of and compliance with paragraph 11 of Article 6 of the Convention.

Finalize, including through consultation with the Open ended Working Group, the guidance to improve the implementation of paragraph 11 of Article 6 of the Convention[4] for consideration and possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting.

5. Control system

Improve the implementation of and compliance with Article 6 of the Convention.

Develop, taking into account the report on the implementation of and compliance with paragraph 4 of Article 6 of the Basel Convention on transit transboundary movements,[5] in particular its paragraphs 81–83, guidance on the implementation of paragraph 4 of Article 6 of the Convention for consideration and possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth meeting.

6. Improve the implementation of and compliance with the Convention

Improve the implementation of and compliance with the Convention.

(a) Regularly review the guidance on legal matters developed by the Committee (e.g., the manual for the implementation of the Basel Convention, the guide to the control system and the guidance on illegal traffic), based on periodic feedback from users and suggestions from stakeholders and in the light of decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties, and make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties on their updating;

(b) Review the operation of the implementation fund, including the links with the Secretariat’s technical assistance plan (document UNEP/CHW.13/INF/36), notably in relation to access to technical and financial support.