Date and place of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties: report by the Convention Secretariat

Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Eighth session Geneva, Switzerland, 1−6 October 2018 Provisional agenda item 9 FCTC/COP/8/24 4 May 2018 66 Date and place of the Ninth session of the Conference of the Parties 66 Report by the Convention Secretariat Purpose of the document This report proposes a date for the Ninth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) should COP9 be held in Geneva, Switzerland. It also makes reference to the basic requirements for Parties to host future COPs. Action by the COP The COP is invited to decide the date and place of its Ninth session. Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), if applicable: Target 3.a and SDG 3. Link to the workplan and budget item: 1. Additional financial implications, if not included in the workplan and budget: N/A. Author team(s): Governance and International Cooperation Team. Related document(s): None. FCTC/COP/8/24 2 BACKGROUND 1. In accordance with its Rules of Procedure, the COP shall decide on the date and duration of its next regular session 1 , which shall be held at the seat of the Convention Secretariat unless COP decides otherwise 2 . 2. The Convention Secretariat has developed a document entitled Basic information for hosting a session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC, available on the WHO FCTC website. This document aims at orientating Parties interested in hosting a session of the COP and provides them with the essential requirements. 3. At the time of writing this report, the Convention Secretariat is about to send out an official communication “Call for interest to host COP9” to all Parties with the above mentioned document, requesting them to express interest before 1 September 2018. 4. Once proposals are received, the Convention Secretariat will bring them to the attention of the Bureau, during its fourth meeting, on 30 September 2018, where the Bureau will determine whether the proposals match the requirements for hosting a COP session and will forward the proposal to the COP for consideration. If there is more than one proposal, the Bureau will determine the criteria for the selection of the host country. The criteria will include the need for regional rotation, taking into consideration previous hosts, among other factors. 5. If no Party expresses interest or those expressed interest cannot meet the requirements to host a COP session, the Bureau will recommend the COP to consider having the Ninth session of the COP to take place at the seat of the Convention Secretariat as per the ROP of the Conference of the Parties. DATES OF THE NINTH SESSION OF THE COP TO BE HELD IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 6. At its third meeting, the Bureau of the COP, in accordance with its mandate3, considered an option for the date of COP9 for holding COP9 at the seat of the Convention Secretariat. 7. In consideration of the above and the availability of the CICG, the Bureau of the COP recommends that COP9 if held in Geneva, should be held on 26–31 October 2020. IF THE NINTH SESSION OF THE COP IS HOSTED BY A PARTY 8. If COP9 is hosted by a Party, the Bureau elected at COP8 will agree with the hosting Party on the final dates for COP9, in consultation with the Convention Secretariat and requests the Convention Secretariat to communicate it to the Parties and observers. 1 Rule 4.2 2 Rule 3 3 Decision FCTC/COP5(20), available at http://apps.who.int/gb/fctc/PDF/cop5/FCTC_COP5(20)-en.pdf. FCTC/COP/8/24 3 Annex 1 FCTC/COP8(xx) Date and place of the Ninth regular session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC The Conference of the Parties (COP), Taking into account Article Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure, which provides that the sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held at the seat of the Secretariat, unless the Conference of the Parties decides otherwise; Considering that the following option has been proposed for the convening of the Ninth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP9): 2631 October 2020, 1. DECIDES that COP9 will be held from 26 to 31 October 2020 at the seat of the Convention Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland; OR 2. DECIDES that COP9 will be held in XXXX with dates to be confirmed after agreement between the hosting Party and the incoming Bureau, in consultation with the Convention Secretariat. ( XXX plenary meeting, XX October 2018) = = =