The conferences of the Parties are the governing bodies of the three conventions and are composed of governments of countries that have accepted, ratified or acceded to them. Meetings of the conferences of the Parties are usually held every two years and are governed by the relevant rules of procedure.
Extraordinary meetings of the COPs (ExCOPs) are held at such times as deemed necessary by the COPs or at the written request of any Party provided that it is supported by at least one-third of the Parties.
At the beginning of the synergies process among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, two rounds of simultaneous ExCOPs of the three conventions were held, in 2010 and 2013. Since 2015, ordinary meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are convened back-to-back.
1st Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings (ExCOPs 1) in 2010
The first simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions were held in Bali, Indonesia, from 22 to 24 February 2010, in coordination with the eleventh special session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum.
The conferences of the Parties took decisions (BC.Ex-1/1, RC.Ex-1/1 and SC.Ex-1/1) on a number of thematic areas to foster collaboration and coordination among the three conventions.
2nd Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings (ExCOPs 2) in 2013
In 2013, ordinary and simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions were held back-to-back from 28 April to 10 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meetings of the conferences of the Parties were held in a coordinated manner to allow for a more effective and coherent decision-making on policy, technical and budget matters among the conventions, including on joint activities.
The three conferences of the Parties adopted a substantively identical omnibus decision on enhancing cooperation and coordination among the three conventions (BC.Ex-2/1, RC.Ex-2/1 and SC.Ex-2/1).
Ordinary Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties since 2015
Since 2015, the ordinary meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are being held back-to-back.
The back-to-back meetings include joint sessions among two or three of the conferences of the Parties on joint issues. The objective of holding the meetings in a coordinated manner is to strengthen the implementation of the three conventions at the national, regional and global levels, promote coherent policy guidance and enhance efficiency in the provision of support to Parties.