COP8 – Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention

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COP8 - Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention

1-4 December 2026 | Vienna, Austria

The Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention (COP8) will convene high-level representatives from the seven Parties to the Carpathian Convention together with many stakeholders from the region, as well as from the European and international levels.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the main decision-making body of the Carpathian Convention, where all Parties to the Convention are represented. The COP sets the political direction, decides on the Programme of Work, the budget of the Convention, and reviews and supports the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols.

The Presidency of the Carpathian Convention will also transfer from Serbia to Ukraine at the COP8. The Presidency, a 3-year term that rotates among the Parties, helps guide the implementation of the Programme of Work by setting and implementing priorities to focus upon over the course of the 3 years. 

Ukraine will take over the Presidency of the Carpathian Convention for the years 2026 – 2029. For its Presidency, Ukraine will prioritize:

  • Positioning the Carpathians within European policy priorities;
  • Balancing economic development with environmental protection;
  • Advancing biodiversity conservation and ecosystem integrity

REGISTRATION

The COP8 is open for participation by Member States and observers. Registration will open soon.

All registrations must be submitted online via the INDICO registration system. Please note that:

  • Registration will require the creation of an INDICO account for first-time users
  • The review and verification process of the registration to the COP meeting is not automatic and may take a few days, depending on the volume of registrations received
    • Approved participants will receive an email notification with a confirmation from the INDICO portal
  • The registration link will take you to both the online and in-person registration forms

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

DECISION COP8/1 Implementation of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework 

    DECISION COP8/2 Support for the Implementation of the Convention in Ukraine 

    DECISION COP8/3 Programme of work and strategic priorities for the implementation period 2027–2029 

    • CC/COP8/3/Annex/1 – Programme of work for the implementation period 2027–2029 (available soon) 

    DECISION COP8/4 Cooperation with the European Union  

    • CC/COP8/4/DOC/1- EEA and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention Work Plan 2027-2029 (available soon)

    DECISION COP8/5 Cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme and other multilateral environmental agreements and international bodies

      DECISION COP8/7 Strengthening science-policy-practice interface 

        DECISION COP8/8 Stakeholder engagement, education, awareness raising and public participation

          DECISION COP8/9 Conservation and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity

          • CC/COP8/9/DOC/1 – International Action Plan on Conservation of Large Carnivores and Ensuring Ecological Connectivity in the Carpathians 2027 – 2035 (available soon) 
          • CC/COP8/9/DOC/2 – Carpathian Lynx Strategy (available soon) 
          • CC/COP8/9/INF/1 – Thematic Guidances on (i) poaching investigations, (ii) conflict prevention, and (iii) monitoring and population management developed by the LECA project (available soon) 
          • CC/COP8/9/INF/2- Relevant NaturaConnect project deliverables (available soon) 
          • CC/COP8/9/INF/3 – Strategic Action Plan (SAP) with Adaptation Actions and Climate Resilience-Enhancing Forest Management practices for protected areas developed by ForestConnect project 
          • CC/COP8/9/INF/4 – Guidelines on the Management of Transnational Mosaic Habitats along Forest Corridors and Guidelines on Preserving Ecosystems and Related Services in Eco-Connectivity Areas for the Benefit of Large Carnivores and Local People (available soon) 

          DECISION COP8/11 Sustainable and integrated water and river basin management

          • CC/COP8/11/INF/1 – Policy recommendations “Improving planning and coordination frameworks to harmonise various level water and climate policies” by RESTORIVER project

          DECISION COP8/12 Sustainable agriculture and rural development

          DECISION COP8/13 Sustainable Forest Management 

          DECISION COP8/14 Sustainable transport, infrastructure, industry and energy

            DECISION COP8/15 Sustainable tourism

            DECISION COP8/16 Cultural Heritage and traditional knowledge

            DECISION COP8/18 Climate change

              DECISION COP8/19 Implementation, reporting, compliance and institutional arrangements under the Carpathian Convention

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