Labour, Economic Affairs, Science

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

The UNECE, established in 1947, is a key regional body of the United Nations, promoting economic cooperation, sustainable development, and regional integration among its 56 member states across Europe, Central Asia, and North America. Ιt serves as a forum for dialogue on issues such as environmental protection, transport, energy efficiency, housing, forestry, and trade facilitation.

UNECE's structure includes a biennial Plenary Session and the Executive Committee (EXCOM), which meets regularly to address strategic and policy matters and oversee the work of specialized committees. These committees cover critical areas such as:

•    Environmental Policy: e.g., air and water quality, biodiversity
•    Sustainable Transport: e.g., international transport conventions, including the TIR Convention
•    Sustainable Energy: e.g., energy efficiency, renewable energy
•    Trade: e.g., regulatory cooperation and trade simplification
•    Housing and Land Management: e.g., urban planning and infrastructure
The current Executive Secretary, since 2023, Tatiana Molcean, emphasizes stronger regional cooperation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate action, resilient infrastructure, and green growth. 

Key UNECE events include the 2025 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, the Conference on Transport Facilitation, the Forum on Circular Economy and Resource Use, and the Annual Climate Action Meeting—all aimed at advancing sustainable solutions for the region’s most pressing challenges.

Greece is actively engaged through its Permanent Mission in Geneva, particularly in key committees such as Sustainable Transport, Environmental Policy, Trade, and Sustainable Energy, with ad hoc participation of experts from Ministries of Environment, Transport and Independent Authority for Public Revenue. Greece promotes priorities such as green trade, renewable energy, natural resource management, and regional partnerships—especially in the Mediterranean and Balkans. It also supports the participation of Greek experts in UNECE scientific and technical work.

Greece’s current participation in Committees of the UNECE:

•    Committee of Competitiveness and Innovation and Public Private Partnerships (CICPPP) - Mr Geroge Katapodis, President
•    Bureau of the Working Party on PPP - Ms Eleni Bacoula, member 
•    Bureau of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management Ambassador – Ambassador Mr Tassos Kriekoukis, member
•    Bureau of the Working Party on the Land Management (WPLA) – Dr Potsiou, member.

{mospagebreak heading=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)&title=World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)}

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), founded in 1967, is a specialized UN agency dedicated to promoting the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights globally. It fosters international cooperation and develops legal frameworks for patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs etc.It manages and develops international treaties concerning intellectual property, such as the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (patents), the Berne Convention (copyright) and the Madrid Agreement (trademarks).

WIPO assists member states—especially developing countries—through technical support, training, and capacity building, helping them strengthen their IP systems and adapt legislation to technological and digital advancements.

Its main bodies include the General Assembly, Coordination Committee, and the Arbitration and Mediation Center. Key committees such as the Paris, Berne, and Madrid Assemblies oversee the implementation of respective treaties. WIPO also facilitates international registration systems like the Madrid System (trademarks) and Hague Agreement (industrial designs).

The current Director-General, since 2020, has been Daren Tang, the first Asian descent to lead WIPO. He focuses on using IP as a tool for economic development, particularly in smaller and developing countries.

In Greece, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI) and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO)monitors technical aspects of WIPO’s work and its specialized committees, while the Greek Permanent Mission in Geneva follows political and strategic developments within the organization.