The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was established by Resolution 36 (IV) of the fourth session of the Economic and Social Council on March 28, 1947 as a regional economic commission of the United Nations. It is the forum where the countries of western, central and eastern Europe, central Asia and North America - 55 countries in all - come together to forge the tools of their economic cooperation. That cooperation concerns such areas as economics, statistics, environment, transport, trade, industry and enterprise development, sustainable energy, timber and habitat. The Commission offers a regional framework for the elaboration and harmonization of conventions, norms and standards. In general, UNECE standards contribute to harmonious economic relations between all member countries and strengthen their regional and worldwide integration. The Commission provides information on its member countries' economic development and, through the discussions it organizes, contributes to the convergence of macroeconomic and sectoral policies. The Commission's experts provide technical assistance to the countries of south-east Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This assistance takes the form of advisory services, training seminars and workshops where countries in transition can share their experiences and receive support from other countries in the region.

COMPOSITION

55 member countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan

STRUCTURE

The Commission meets annually. The seven principal subsidiary bodies, which normally meet annually, are: Committee on Environmental Policy; Inland Transport Committee; Conference of European Statisticians; Committee for Trade, Industry, and Enterprise Development; Committee on Sustainable Energy; Timber Committee; and Committee on Human Settlements.

PUBLICATIONS

Annual Report; ECE Highlights (news round-up - quarterly); Economic Survey of Europe (two issues per year); Trends in Europe and North America - The Statistical Yearbook of the Economic Commission for Europe (annual); Statistical Journal of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (four issues per year); Women and Men in Europe and North America; World Robotics (annual); Statistical Standards and Studies; Air Pollution Studies; Environmental Performance Reviews; Water Series; Country Profiles on the Housing Sector; ECE Energy Series; ECE Gas Centre Series; Fertility and Family Surveys in Countries of the ECE Region; Timber Bulletin (six issues); Timber Committee Yearbook (annual); Timber and Forest Study Papers; Trade and Investment Briefings; Trade and Investment Guides; Transport Agreements; Customs Conventions; Maps: E-Road Network; International Railway and Combined Transport Lines; European Inland Waterways.