United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is one of the five regional economic commissions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with headquarters in Geneva, established on 28 March, 1947.

Members of the UNECE are 56 states, including the countries of Europe, the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Israel, the states of Central Asia.

Since September 2023, Ms. Tatiana Molcean (Moldova) holds the position of the Executive Secretary of the UNECE.

UNECE contributes to the development of economic cooperation in Europe, strengthening trade and economic relations within the region and between this region and the rest of the world. This goal is being achieved by cooperation in the framework of the thematic areas of ecology, innovation, housing policy, transport, energy, trade, and statistics. In practical terms, UNECE develops legal and technical instruments (treaties, standards, etc.), conducts reviews and studies, and organizes expert and technical assistance to member states.

The UNECE includes eight sectoral committees:

1) Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships;
2) Committee on Environmental Policy;
3) Inland Transport Committee;
4) Committee on Sustainable Energy;
5) Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management;
6) Committee on Forests and Forest Industry;
7) Steering Committee on Trade Capacity and Standards;
8) Conference of European Statisticians.

The executive body of the UNECE is the Session of the Commission, which takes place every two years. In April 2019, at the 68th session of the Commission Belarus was elected as Chair of the UNECE for the period to 2021. The Belarusian delegation was headed by H.E. Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.

Belarus has been a full member of the UNECE since its' creation. The collaboration was carried out throughout the entire period of the Commission.

General issues of UNECE activities are assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cooperation with sectoral committees of the Commission carries on by the relevant government bodies.

In cooperation with the UNECE, Belarus implements public-private partnership initiative, as well as technical assistance projects in the areas of environmental protection, trade, innovation policy, housing, land use, etc.

Belarus is an active participant in international agreements and conventions adopted by the UNECE and provides the fulfillment of its' obligations.

Executive Secretaries visited Belarus: in 2001 — a visit of Ms. Danuta Hübner, in 2008 — a visit of Mr. Marek Belka, in November 2009 — a visit of Mr. Ján Kubiš, in November 2015, June 2016, October 2016. — visits of Christian Friis Bach, in February 2018 — a visit of Ms. Olga Algayerova.