Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 13 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 July 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 July 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

UN Environment Programme

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to support the transformation of the United Nations Environment Programme into a world environment organisation with enhanced powers.

Answer: It is HMG and EU policy to support the development of the United Nations Environment Programme into a specialised UN agency (or United Nations Environment Organisation) with a revised and strengthened mandate, supported by stable, adequate and predictable financial contributions.The Millennium Review Summit in September provides an opportunity to initiate a process of negotiations on this proposal, in the context of wider UN reform and the UN Secretary-General's recommendation on the need for a more integrated structure of international environmental governance.This position is set out in the Presidency Conclusions agreed at the 16–17 June 2005 European Council.

Secondary information