Vol. 470 No. 4
149 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the preparations and submissions he is making concerning the UN Commission on Sustainable Development at its June 1997 five year review of the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. [19232/96]
Preparations for the fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, 7-25 April 1997, and the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, June 1997, to review the implementation of Agenda 21 have begun at both national and EU levels. EU Environment Ministers' priorities for the special session were discussed at the Environment Council on 15 October. In addition, the Irish Presidency has established a special high level working group of environment and development aid officials to ensure an active EU preparation for the special session; this group held its first meeting on 17 October.
Preparations will intensify when the European Commission's Communication on an EU Common Platform for the Special Session is presented in early November. This communication will provide the basis for further consideration of the matter at the December Environment Council.
