23 January 2011: The Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Ján Kubiš, has presented the priorities of the Commission for 2011, according to UNECE’s weekly newsletter for the period 23-27 January 2011.

Kubiš stated that during the Commission’s upcoming session, taking place from 29-31 March 2011, the high-level segment will cover two main themes: “Economic integration in the UNECE region” and “The role of regional integration and cooperation for promoting sustainable development in the UNECE region,” with the latter focusing on transport and trade infrastructure, and energy cooperation. Kubiš also announced a roundtable meeting on the topic, “Empowering women for sustainable development in the UNECE region.”

Kubiš further announced that the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 21-23 September 2011, will address: sustainable management of water and water-related ecosystems; and greening the economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development. Finally, he highlighted the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The Regional Preparatory Meeting will be held in December 2011 in Geneva. [The Newsletter]