1. An Information Session with Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) was held by the CTE Special Session (CTESS) on 12 November 2002. The focus of the Session was on paragraph 31(ii) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration which reads: "With a view to enhancing the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment, [Ministers] agree to negotiations, without prejudging their outcome, on: … (ii) procedures for regular information exchange between MEA Secretariats and the relevant WTO committees, and the criteria for the granting of observer status".
2. The Chairperson noted that this mandate given by Ministers at the Doha Ministerial Conference, demonstrated the importance which the WTO attached to cooperation and information exchange with MEAs and the UNEP. Discussions in the CTESS had already started on this part of the mandate and many useful views had been exchanged. In these discussions, all Members had emphasized the importance of cooperation and information exchange with MEAs, and suggestions had been made on how to build on existing forms of cooperation.