United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five United Nations regional commissions. It was established in 1947 with the mandate to help rebuild post-war Europe, develop economic activity and strengthen economic relations among European countries, and between Europe and the rest of the world. UNECE supports its 56 member States in Europe, Central Asia and North America in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, offering practical tools to improve people’s everyday lives. UNECE provides a multilateral platform for policy dialogue, the development of international legal instruments, norms and standards, the exchange of best practices and economic and technical expertise, as well as technical cooperation for countries. UNECE’s multisectoral approach helps countries to tackle the interconnected challenges of sustainable development in an integrated manner. With its unique convening power, UNECE fosters cooperation among all stakeholders at the country and regional levels.



Sustainable Transport

The UNECE Sustainable Transport Division is the secretariat of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) and the ECOSOC Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. The ITC and its 20 working parties, as well as the ECOSOC Committee and its sub-committees are intergovernmental decision-making bodies that work to improve the daily lives of people and businesses around the world, in measurable ways and with concrete actions, to enhance traffic safety, environmental performance, energy efficiency and the competitiveness of the transport sector. ITC is a unique intergovernmental forum that was set up in 1947 to support the reconstruction of transport connections in post-war Europe. Over the years, it has specialized in facilitating the harmonized and sustainable development of inland modes of transport.



Economic Cooperation and Trade

The Economic Cooperation and Trade Division (ECTD) works to support closer economic relations among UNECE’s 56 member States in the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. It assists member States in better integrating their economies into the world economy and in promoting a better policy, financial and regulatory environment conducive to economic growth, innovative development and higher competitiveness in the ECE region. The ECTD, organized along four Sections: Trade Facilitation, Market Access, Cooperation and Partnerships, Innovative Policies Development, as well as (ad hoc) teams supporting cross-cutting work streams (e.g. Circular Economy, small and medium-sized enterprises) services a large number of inter-governmental entities active in the development of policy recommendations, standards and best practice for trade facilitation and electronic businesses (UN/CEFACT), regulatory cooperation, agricultural quality standards, public-private partnerships, innovation policies and value chain traceability, as well as two Sectoral Committees. It also provides technical assistance for the implementation of such standards and recommendations, a platform for exchange, as well as targeted and demand-driven research and analytical work.