Geneva is an important centre for international trade policy and economic development. It is home to a number of important organizations, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The Permanent Mission of Albania in Geneva pursues Albania’s economic and trade interests in these organizations, including through negotiations.

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The World Trade Organization (WTO)
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade. The World Trade Organization came into being in 1995. It is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established in the wake of the Second World War, therefore more than 70 years old. It has contributed for an exceptional growth in world trade. On average trade has grown by 1.5 times more than the global economy each year.
The WTO has 164 members, accounting for around 98% of world trade.
Albania joined the World Trade Organization on 8 September 2000. The Ministry of Finance and Economy is the institution responsible in the country for all issues related to the WTO – it prepares and approves the positions of Albania at the WTO, as well as coordinates the work with other institutions in the country regarding the obligations stemming from membership (such as notifications).
The system was developed through a series of trade negotiations, or rounds, held under the GATT. The first rounds dealt mainly with tariff reductions, but later negotiations included other areas, such as anti-dumping and non-tariff measures. The 1986-94 round – the Uruguay Round – led to the WTO’s creation.

Functions of the WTO
The WTO’s overriding objective is to help trade flow smoothly, freely and predictably. It does this by:

• administering trade agreements
• acting as a forum for trade negotiations
• settling trade disputes
• reviewing national trade policies
• building the trade capacity of developing economies
• cooperating with other international organizations

The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which meets usually every two years. Below this is the General Council, ambassadors and heads of delegation based in Geneva, which meets several times a year in the Geneva headquarters.

WTO agreements
At the heart of the system – known as the multilateral trading system – are the WTO’s agreements, negotiated and signed by a large majority of the world’s trading economies, and ratified in their parliaments. These agreements relate to trade in goods, in services, and also protection of intellectual property rights. The agreements are the legal foundations for global trade. Essentially, they are contracts, guaranteeing WTO members important trade rights. They also bind governments to keep their trade policies transparent and predictable, which is to everybody’s benefit.
The agreements provide a stable and transparent framework to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business. The 1986-94 Uruguay Round created new rules for dealing with trade in services and intellectual property and new procedures for dispute settlement. The complete set runs to some 30,000 pages consisting of about 30 agreements and separate commitments (called schedules) made by individual members in specific areas, such as lower tariffs and services market-opening. Through these agreements, WTO members operate a non-discriminatory trading system that spells out their rights and their obligations.

Dispute settlement
The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade conflicts under the Dispute Settlement Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly. Governments bring disputes to the WTO if they think their rights under the WTO agreements are being infringed. Judgements by specially appointed independent experts are based on interpretations of the agreements and individual members’ commitments. The system encourages members to settle their differences through consultation with each other. If this proves to be unsuccessful, they can follow a stage-by-stage procedure that includes the possibility of a ruling by a panel of experts and the chance to appeal the ruling on legal grounds.

Trade monitoring
The WTO’s Trade Policy Review Mechanism is designed to improve transparency, to create a greater understanding of the trade policies adopted by WTO members and to assess their impact. Many members see the reviews as constructive feedback on their policies. All WTO members must undergo periodic scrutiny, each review containing reports by the member concerned and the WTO Secretariat. In addition, the WTO undertakes regular monitoring of global trade measures.

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The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. UNECE was established on 28 March 1947 and is composed of 56 Member States, most of which are based in Europe.
Albania became a member of UNECE in December 1955. Representatives from different national institutions participate at various UNECE activities, committees and forums, in accordance with their fields of competence.
As a multilateral platform, UNECE facilitates greater economic integration and cooperation among its member countries and promotes sustainable development and economic prosperity through:

• policy dialogue
• negotiation of international legal instruments
• development of regulations and norms
• exchange and application of best practices as well as economic and technical expertise
• technical cooperation for countries with economies in transition.

UNECE contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations through the regional implementation of outcomes of global United Nations conferences and summits.
The highest decision making body is the Commission, which meets biennially to guide the work of the UNECE. In between Commission sessions, the Executive Committee (EXCOM) acts on behalf of the Commission on all matters related to UNECE activities, ensuring implementation of the Commission guidance.

UNECE domains

• Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships

The Committee helps all countries in the region to promote a policy, financial and regulatory environment conducive to economic growth, innovative development and higher competitiveness in and of the UNECE region.

• Environment Policy

The Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP) meets annually as the overall governing body of UNECE environmental activities. The Committee provides collective policy direction in environment and sustainable development, prepares ministerial meetings, develops international environmental law and supports international initiatives in the region. CEP works to support countries to enhance their environmental governance and transboundary cooperation as well as strengthen implementation of the UNECE regional environmental commitments and advance sustainable development in the region.

The UNECE Environment Conventions:

• The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) focuses on interactions between the public and public authorities. Albania joined the Aarhus Convention in June 1998. The National Contact Point to the Aarhus Convention is the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

 

• The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, also known as the Water Convention aims to improve national attempts and measures for protection and management of transboundary surface waters and groundwaters. Albania joined the Water Convention in January 1994. The National Contact Point to the Water Convention is the Agency for Water Resources Management.

 

• The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context  (Espoo Convention)is a key step to bringing together all stakeholders to prevent environmental damage before it occurs. It sets out the obligations of Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries. Albania joined the Espoo Convention in October 1991. The National Contact Point to the Espoo Convention is the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

 

• The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention)aims to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution. It is implemented by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Program (EMEP), directed by UNECE. Albania joined the Air Convention in December 2005. The National Contact Point to the Air Convention is the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

 

• The Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents helps parties to prevent industrial accidents that can have transboundary effects and to prepare for, and respond to, accidents if they occur. Albania joined the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents in January 1994. The National Contact Point is the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

 

• Forests

The joint ECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section supports developing evidence-based policies for sustainable forest management and communicates about the many products and ecosystem services provided to society while assisting countries of the region to monitor and manage forests.

• Housing and Land Management

The UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management works to promote: energy efficient and adequate housing, including for those with special needs and vulnerable population groups; compact, inclusive, resilient, smart and sustainable cities; transparent and efficient land use, and property registration.
This work is based on key United Nations policy documents on housing and urban development, including, UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Land Management 2014-2020.

• Population

UNECE aims to promote policy dialogue on various facets of demographic change across the region, with a particular focus on ageing.

• Sustainable Energy

UNECE’s work on sustainable energy is designed to improve access to affordable and clean energy for all and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of the energy sector in the region. It promotes international policy dialogue and cooperation among governments, energy industries and other stakeholders.  The focus is on energy efficiency, cleaner electricity production from fossil fuels, renewable energy, coal mine methane, natural gas, classification of energy and mineral reserves and resources, and energy security.

• Statistics

 

The division supports national statistical systems to meet the data needs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through methodological guidance, modernization of statistics, and capacity development.

• Trade

The trade program works to develop closer economic relations among member States, as well as to better integrate their economies into the world economy. The trade program’s inter-governmental bodies make policy recommendations, develop standards for use in trade and assist member States in implementing them. These bodies also suggest ways and means of creating legal and administrative frameworks for fostering trade. Work includes a range of activities to assist member States with trade facilitation; regulatory and standards policy; commercial agricultural standards; and e-business standards.

• Transport

The transport division works to promote sustainable transport which is safe, clean and competitive, through the development of freight and personal mobility by inland transport modes, by improving traffic safety, environmental performance, energy efficiency, inland transport security and efficient service provision in the transport sector.
The Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975)is so far the only universal Customs transit system in existence. Albania acceded to the TIR Convention in January 1985. The Albanian Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is charged with monitoring the convention’s implementation in Albania.

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The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body and its headquarters are in Geneva. Currently, UNCTAD has 195 member states; beside states, non-governmental organizations also participate in the activities of UNCTAD. Representatives from various national institutions participate in the activities of UNCTAD forums, in line with their areas of competence.

UNCTAD’s ministerial conference, its highest forum, ordinarily meets once in four years. UNCTAD ministerials have taken place in took place in Geneva (1964), New Delhi (1968), Santiago (1972), Nairobi (1976), Manila (1979), Belgrade (1983), Geneva (1987), Cartagena (1992), Johannesburg (1996), Bangkok (2000), São Paulo (2004), Accra (2008), Doha (2012), and Nairobi (2016). The fifteenth UNCTAD ministerial conference is planned to take place in Bridgetown (Barbados) in 2021.
UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. The organization’s goals are to maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis”. The primary objective of UNCTAD is to formulate policies relating to all aspects of development including trade, aid, transport, finance, and technology.
The creation of UNCTAD in 1964 was based on concerns of developing countries over the international market, multi-national corporations, and great disparity between developed nations and developing nations. UNCTAD was established to provide a forum where developing countries could discuss the problems relating to their economic development.
One of the principal achievements of UNCTAD (1964) has been to conceive and implement the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). It was argued in UNCTAD that to promote exports of manufactured goods from developing countries, it would be necessary to offer special tariff concessions to such exports. Accepting this argument, the developed countries formulated the GSP scheme under which manufacturers’ exports and imports of some agricultural goods from the developing countries enter duty-free or at reduced rates in the developed countries. Since imports of such items from other developed countries are subject to the normal rates of duties, imports of the same items from developing countries would enjoy a competitive advantage.

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The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
The WIPO Convention, the constituent instrument of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was signed at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 and entered into force in 1970. In 1974 WIPO became one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international Intellectual Property system that enables innovation and creativity.
WIPO has 193 member states; its headquarters are in Geneva and has Liaison Offices in Brazil, Japan, Singapore and the United States of America (at the United Nations in New York).
Albania joined WIPO in 1992. The General Directorate of Industrial Property is the national institution that covers the full range of issues related to intellectual property in Albania, in close cooperation with WIPO.
The origins of WIPO go back to 1883 and 1886, when the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, respectively, were concluded. Both Conventions provided for the establishment of an “International Bureau”. The two bureaus were united in 1893 and were replaced by the World Intellectual Property Organization, by virtue of the WIPO Convention, in 1970.
WIPO’s two main objectives are (i) to promote the protection of intellectual property worldwide; and (ii) to ensure administrative cooperation among the intellectual property Unions established by the treaties that WIPO administers.
The WIPO Convention establishes three main organs: the WIPO General Assembly, the WIPO Conference and the WIPO Coordination Committee.
The WIPO General Assembly is composed of the Member States of WIPO which are also members of any of the Unions. Its main functions are, inter alia, the appointment of the Director General upon nomination by the Coordination Committee, review and approval of the reports of the Director General and the reports and activities of the Coordination Committee, adoption of the biennial budget common to the Unions, and adoption of the financial regulations of the Organization.
The WIPO Coordination Committee is composed of members elected from among the members of the Executive Committee of the Paris Union and the Executive Committee of the Berne Union. Also, the Coordination Committee nominates the candidate for the post of Director General for appointment by the General Assembly.
The WIPO Conference is composed of the States party to the WIPO Convention. It is, inter alia, the competent body for adopting amendments to the Convention. Its main functions are to give advice to the organs of the Unions, the General Assembly, the Conference, and to the Director General, on all administrative and financial matters of interest to these bodies.
The principal sources of income of WIPO’s regular budget are the fees paid by the users of the international registration and filing services and the contributions paid by the governments of Member States.

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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications. Its headquarters are in Geneva. ITU membership includes 193 countries and around 900 businesses, academic institutions, and international and regional organizations.
Albania joined the ITU in June 1922. The national institutions that cooperate closely with ITU are the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the Audiovisual Media Authority, the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority, the National Agency for Information Society, and the National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cyber Security.

The main work of ITU is divided between three Sectors, namely:

• The Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), coordinates matters to do with radio communication services, radio-frequency spectrum management and wireless services.
• The Development Sector (ITU-D), is focused on technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to allow the development of telecommunication networks and services.
• The Telecommunication Standardisation Sector (ITU-T), ensures the efficient and on-time production of high-quality standards covering all fields of telecommunications on a worldwide basis, as well as defining tariff and accounting principles for international telecommunication services.

The Plenipotentiary Conference is the top policy-making body of the ITU. Held every four years, the Conference sets the Union’s general policies, adopts five-year strategic and financial plans and elects the senior management team of the organization.
In the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences, the ITU Council is the highest institutional body, composed of 48 members, which considers broad telecommunication policy issues.
Also, there are several ITU’s entities in order to ensure that the Union’s activities, policies and strategies fully respond to today’s dynamic, rapidly changing telecommunication environment.
The ITU is divided into five administrative regions. These regions allow for ease of administration for the Union. They are also used to ensure equitable distribution on the Council, with seats being apportioned among the regions. They are as follows:

• Region A – The Americas (35 Member States)
• Region B – Western Europe (33 Member States)
• Region C – Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (21 Member States)
• Region D – Africa (54 Member States)
• Region E – Asia and Australasia (50 Member States)

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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), whose creation dates back to the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences. The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, is headed by the Secretary-General. Its supreme body is the World Meteorological Congress.
WMO members are divided into six regions:

• Region I: Africa
• Region II: Asia
• Region III: South America
• Region IV: North America, Central America and the Caribbean
• Region V: South-West Pacific
• Region VI: Europe

Albania joined the WMO in July 1957. The Institute of Geo-Sciences, Energy, Water and Environment represents Albania at the WMO.