Annex 5 Background Note to the Informal Briefing for OSCE participating States, 22 September 2006, Vienna Background The 2005 Ljubljana Ministerial Council adopted Decision MC.DEC/17/05 on 6 December calling for ‘Strengthening the Effectiveness of the OSCE’. Its para. 1 tasks the Permanent Council with continuing work on the basis of the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons and the outcome of the High-Level Consultations and reporting to the Ministerial Council in 2006 on 11 issues within the reform agenda. Para. 2 tasks the ODIHR to submit a report for discussion to the next Ministerial Council. As set out in the preamble to MC Dec. 17/05, this tasking is also to be seen against the background of the final report of the Panel of Eminent Persons which was presented to the Permanent Council on 30 June 2005. This report made a number of suggestions on human dimension issues; it also stated, i.a., that the different Institutions should retain their ability to make independent evaluations and take programmatic initiatives in accordance with their respective mandates. In order to respond to the tasking contained in MC Dec. 17/05 para.2, in particular to take into account and answer questions put by participating States and in close consultation with them, the ODIHR has so far requested, by way of NV 62/2006, participating States to provide questions related to these four areas. A large number of responses was received by the ODIHR; Amb. Strohal subsequently delivered an informal briefing on 7 July 2006 in Vienna. In order to clarify a number of points arising with regard to the questions received by ODIHR and also with a view to preparing for consultations, a number of key issues were further outlined by ODIHR in NV 257/2006. In order to continue consultations on the matter delegations of participating States were invited to an informal briefing on 22 September. The HDIM, taking place from 2-13 October in Warsaw, will also offer an opportunity for further discussions, in particular on the implementation of commitments entered into by all 56 participating States and to enhance compliance with these commitments. 96 Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation