Press Release: European Commission and UNEP co-operate to address global environmental threats

The European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) met in Brussels to discuss co-operation in addressing threats to the environment, 24 May 2005. The High Level Meeting, co-chaired by Klaus Töpfer (Executive Director of UNEP) and Catherine Day (Director-General of DG Environment), took place in response to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the European Commission and UNEP in September 2004. The Memorandum reinforced policy dialogue and collaboration between the two institutions, supports implementation of the commitments made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and helps reach the environment-related UN Millennium Development Goals. The meeting agreed a Joint Work Programme designed to support these objectives.