Appendix 2
to the Order № 5/30/1н/2 of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Finance and the Academy of Sciences

Terms of Reference

for the Interagency Expert Coordination Council for Project Initiatives in the field of sustainable development

1. General

1.1 Interagency Expert Coordination Council for Project Initiatives in the field of sustainable development (hereafter referred to as "Council") is set up as a permanent consultative body for preparation and implementation of project investment initiatives in the fields of sustainable development, rational use of nature and protection of environment.
1.2 The Council is established with the goal of considering initiatives of the Russian and Foreign organisations and coordinating investment and project activities to ensure the system of adopting decisions on merits and prioritisation of state support for investment projects and programs of ecological significance.
1.3 The Constitution of the Russian Federation, international agreements, Federal Constitutional Laws, Decrees and Orders of the President of the Russian Federation, Orders and Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation and other normative acts and these Terms of Reference

2. Goals and Functions

2.1 The Main task of the Council is to determine measures of state support for implementation of priority investment projects and programs of ecological significance in the field of sustainable development.
2.2 The Council fulfils the following functions:

• Analysis of information on implementation of large investment projects on the territory of Russian Federation and international programs which are either being implemented at present or are being put forward for implementation;
  
• Review of tasks and most important components of programs and projects which are being proposed for implementation with the goal of determining the priorities of the state policy;
  
• Accumulation of the data base on Russian and Foreign organisations, which are participating in implementation of projects and programs, their organisational and investment capacities;
  
• Development of recommendations on the measures of state support for priority investment projects and programs of environmental significance in the field of sustainable development;
  
• Preparation of proposals for the Council on the Problems of Far North and Arctic, attached to the Government of the Russian Federation on optimization of the implementation of investment projects and programs of ecological significance in the regions of Far North and Arctic.

3. Work Procedure of the Council

3.1 The Council is led by the chairman of the Council. Chairman and the members of the Council are approved by the joint decision of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

3.2 The Council conducts its work in accordance with yearly plans approved by the Chairman of the Council.

3.3 Meetings of the Council are organized by its Chairman or by his order by the Deputy Chairman, as often as necessary, but not less than three times per year in the presence of at least 50 per cent of its members.

3.4 Decisions of the Council are taken by open votes by simple majority of the present members of the Council. In the case of equal numbers of votes, the vote of the Chairman will prevail.

3.5 Decisions of the Council are documented by protocol and signed by the Chairman or his Deputy and the Responsible Secretary. Protocols of the Council meetings are sent by the Responsible Secretary to all Council members and interested organisations.

3.6 Decisions by the Council constitute recommendations and are used by structural sub-units of Federal executive bodies and other organisations of the Russian Federation when decisions are to be taken on the implementation of investment projects and programs in the field of sustainable development.

3.7 Council has the right to establish working groups composed of scientists, highly qualified specialists, representatives of federal executive bodies and executive bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation, in order to review and ensure proposals on projects.

3.8 Control of fulfillment of the working plans and Council decisions is exercised by the Responsible Secretary, who also prepares summary annual report on the work of the Council and presents it to Chairman of the Council for the approval.