CEB is the central coordination mechanism of the UN system. Composed of the Executive Heads of all UN system organizations, it is chaired by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan. It meets twice a year, once at the headquarters of one of the organizations of the system and once at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The CEB session in Paris will address the "Follow-up to the Millennium Summit: strategies for sustainable development". In this context, it will review the follow up to the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development with particular reference to the issue of energy and water. The issue of water will also be one of the main themes at the forthcoming G8 Summit in Evian (France). The Executive Heads will initiate discussions of the UN System's contribution towards the 2005 Comprehensive Review of the

implementation of the Millennium Declaration by the General Assembly. Other issues under consideration will include UN system support for Africa's development and NEPAD as well as the linkages between HIV/AIDS and food security and the erosion of critical institutional capacities in the public and private sectors in the affected countries.

Following their meeting at UNESCO Headquarters, the CEB Executive Heads will convene a brief retreat at the Château de Rambouillet.