The Conference of the Parties to the UNECE Convention Has Concluded Its Work.

The delegation of the Republic of Belarus, including representatives from the Ministry for Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actively participated in discussions on the agenda of the XIII Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The Belarusian delegation repeatedly emphasized their position on the urgent aspects of implementing the Convention, emphasizing the inadmissibility of politicizing it and the importance of effective cooperation between parties to ensure industrial safety in a cross-border context.

Alexander Klobuk, the head of the delegation, noted the significant role of the country in addressing industrial safety issues. He emphasized that Belarus allocates substantial financial resources from its national budget for preventive measures aimed at reducing industrial accidents in the country. Additionally, Belarus implements a wide range of monitoring measures and preparedness activities to ensure industrial safety and respond to man-made incidents, which contributes significantly to the safety of its citizens and security within a cross-border framework.

The participants discussed best practices for assessing the risks of industrial accidents and technologies for their prevention. They also considered issues related to the safe transition to renewable energy sources, as well as increasing the level of knowledge among citizens about industrial safety. The conference approved a work plan for the next two years, 2025 and 2026, and elected officials to the Conference's Bureau and members of the Working Group for the Implementation of the Convention.

The Presidium of the Conference includes representatives from Armenia, Great Britain, Germany, Moldova, Serbia, Finland, Switzerland, and the European Commission. Members of the Working Group include delegates from Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Marie-Claire Lanry, the Head of the International and European Affairs Department at the General Directorate for Risk Prevention within the French Ministry for Environmental Transition, has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Conference of Parties.

This event was also notable for the fact that it was held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Assistance and Cooperation Program of the Convention. Belarus is a beneficiary country of this program and has actively participated in its activities for many years.

On the last day of the event, the Belarusian delegation reaffirmed its commitment to the objectives and principles of the Convention and expressed its willingness to continue contributing to industrial safety in the UNECE region.

It should be noted that the XIII Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents took place at the UN Office in Geneva, attended by more than 130 representatives from more than 55 countries, international organizations, and initiatives and institutions.