The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It is the forum where the countries of western, central and eastern Europe, central Asia and North America – 55 countries in all – come together to forge the tools of their economic cooperation. That cooperation concerns such areas as economics, statistics, environment, transport, trade, industry and enterprise development, sustainable energy, timber and habitat.

The Commission offers a regional framework for the elaboration and harmonization of conventions, norms and standards. The Commission's experts provide technical assistance to the countries of south-east Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This assistance takes the form of advisory services, training seminars and workshops where countries in transition can share their experiences and receive support from other countries in the region.