Structure of the MCPFE

MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES

At Ministerial Conferences the ministers responsible for forests in Europe take decisions on common aspects of highest political relevance regarding forests and forestry.
Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe took place in 1990 in Strasbourg, in 1993 in Helsinki, in 1998 in Lisbon and in 2003 in Vienna.

EXPERT LEVEL MEETINGS, ROUND TABLE MEETINGS, AD HOC WORKING GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

Expert Level Meetings

are attended by representatives of the European states and the European Community (MCPFE signatories) as well as by observers from non-European countries, international organisations and NGOs in the fields of research, forest industry and environment. The MCPFE signatories have the mandate to take decisions regarding the implementation of commitments made by the ministers at previous Ministerial Conferences and the preparation of forthcoming ones.

Round Table Meetings

aim at an exchange of information and opinions, providing essential guidance for the implementation of MCPFE decisions as well as on strategic developments of the MCPFE.

Ad hoc working groups, seminars and workshops

are convened to discuss specific subjects. These meetings are attended by MCPFE participants as well as by nominated experts. The results of ad hoc working groups, seminars and workshops are presented for consideration to the subsequent Expert Level Meeting.

GENERAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (GCC)

The General Co-ordinating Committee (GCC) of the MCPFE has the task to facilitate and co-ordinate the work of the MCPFE. It gives advice to the Liaison Unit regarding the implementation of MCPFE decisions as well as on strategic developments of the MCPFE. The GCC is also responsible for financing the Liaison Unit and its activities.

The GCC is constituted by four MCPFE countries. In accordance with the established practice of the MCPFE, these include the country which organised the previous Ministerial Conference (Austria), the country convening the next Ministerial Conference (Poland) and two other countries which will succeed in this line of organising Ministerial Conferences (Norway, Spain).

LIAISON UNIT

The Liaison Unit was originally developed from the secretariat of the Helsinki Conference. In consequence of the second Ministerial Conference in Finland it was moved from Helsinki to Lisbon. After the Lisbon Conference in 1998 the Liaison Unit was established in Vienna. At the end of 2003, the Liaison Unit will move to Warsaw, Poland. It is a service-oriented office to support the co-operation of the ministers responsible for forests in Europe.

The Liaison Unit is responsible for the organisation and carrying out of all international meetings of the MCPFE as well as the preparation of reports and papers and the substantial development of the technical background documents for discussion at these meetings.