Implementing Resolution 658 adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment at its 35th ordinary session, held on 17 October 2024, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Economic Affairs Sector convened the third meeting of the Arab Negotiating Group on Plastic Pollution on 7–8 April at the headquarters of the League of Arab States.
The meeting was convened in preparation for the second segment of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on the development of a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 August 2025, in Geneva.
Discussions focused on reviewing the outcomes of the first part of the fifth INC session, assessing the positions of Arab countries with regard to these developments, and establishing coordination mechanisms to unify Arab perspectives ahead of the upcoming session. The Secretariat of the Convention delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the ongoing preparations for the second segment of the INC's fifth session, including details on participation procedures and logistical arrangements.
The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations, foremost among them the reaffirmation of the unified Arab negotiating position on the proposed instrument and the emphasis on upholding this collective stance in all relevant international forums and high-level discussions.
