| Montreal, 16/06/2004 – In the context of the ten-year anniversary of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC)—a side accord to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is organizing a public workshop on future directions of the NAAEC on 21 June 2004, in Puebla, Mexico. Three main issues will be discussed including the North American Environmental Agenda, Environmental Goals and Objectives of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the NAAEC Institutions and Public Involvement.
This workshop will be followed on 22 June by a public meeting with environment ministers of Canada, Mexico and the United States to review findings of the ten-year review of the (NAAEC), undertaken by the independent review committee established for that purpose, in order to chart a path forward for the CEC over the next decade.
JPAC regards these public meetings as unique opportunities for the North American public to participate in decisions on regional environmental issues and help address new issues which will be concerning decision-makers in the near future.
Based on the results of this public input, JPAC—composed of 15 citizens from each country—will provide advice to the North American environmental ministers on the future of the NAAEC.
In parallel to the above meetings, JPAC will also hold a regular session on 22–23 June in order to discuss a number of administrative issues. The public is invited to observe at this session.
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners in implementing NAAEC, the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC.
From more information, please consult the CEC web site at <www.cec.org> or contact Manon Pepin, the JPAC Liaison Officer, at <mpepin@ccemtl.org>.
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