ECOSOC DIALOGUE WITH THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
In ECOSOC decision 2004/323 on regional cooperation, the Council decided to organize every year a dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions immediately after the High-level Segment of its Substantive Session. This interactive dialogue provides an important forum for the exchange of information between Member States and the Regional Commissions on issues related to regional cooperation and emerging development priorities for the different regions. This year, the ECOSOC Dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions took place on 8 July 2011 in the afternoon.
At its organizational session, the Council decided that the theme of the interactive dialogue for 2011 will be "Regional cooperation as a catalyst for development: examples from the regions". This theme is timely given the increasing relevance of regional cooperation and regional integration processes for addressing a number of trans-boundary development challenges.
During this dialogue the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions highlighted key examples of regional cooperation that have provided a stimulus for development and accelerated progress towards the MDGs, including in areas related to education, in their respective regions. The presentations also outlined the actions taken and the role of the Regional Commissions in strengthen regional cooperation and in supporting South-South cooperation. High-level representatives from countries and key regional organizations acted as discussants and provided their perspective on the importance of regional cooperation, and their expectations from the Regional Commissions in support of regional cooperation and integration initiatives.
Contact
For more information on the Dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions, please contact Mr. Amr Nour, Director, Regional Commissions New York Office, at nour@un.org
Substantive session 2011