Assembly/AU/Dec.526(XXIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Doc.EX.CL/845(XXV) The Assembly, 1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Commission on the Status of Operationalization of the Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) and the recommendations of the Executive Council thereon; 2. REQUESTS the Commission, in collaboration with the Bureaus of various Sectoral Ministerial Conferences, to pursue and finalize the process of operationalization of the remaining STCs which have not yet operationalized from January 2014 to December 2014 after which all Sectoral Ministerial Conferences will be abolished; 3. DECIDES SUBSEQUENTLY that no budget proposals for holding Sectoral Ministerial Conferences from January 2015 will be considered, however with regard to AMCEN, AGREES that given the importance of on-going global consultations on the issue of environment and taking into account the need to defend the interests of Africa, this institution be allowed to pursue the negotiations with concerned partners until they are concluded; 4. REQUESTS the Commission to submit to the Executive Council through the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) a Progress Report on the operationalization of STCs in July 2016.