specifically to have a more in-depth and thorough discussion on operationalizing flexibilities accorded to developing countries in the light of our capacities. The Group looks forward to continuing our work with our partners. Finally, the Group wishes to thank the various co-facilitators from both Annex I Parties and our Group for their leadership in guiding and facilitating our discussions.

Reporting of Annex I Parties under the Convention

The Group welcomes the work done and agreement made on the continuation on the Training programmes for review experts for the technical review of national inventories, Biennial Reports and National Communication of Annex I Parties.

In the year that UNFCCC completes a quarter of a century, our Group sees with great concern the declining trend on the levels of reporting by Annex I Parties under the Convention, as it can be verified in the numbers of Biennial Reports and National Communication delivered by developed countries in the last two cycles of reporting. In addition, the group sees with great concern that no agreement was possible to be reached on the Terms of Reference of Consultative Group of Experts agenda item, the lack of advancement in this agenda item creates trust issues considering that this constituted body supports developing nations under the COP during the last 20 years and it was mandated by the CMA to also support developing countries under the Paris Agreement.

Since many of the SBI 3 agenda items and SBSTA 8 agenda items were not possible to reach agreement in this session the Group requests that additional efforts from the SBs chairs and secretariat will be needed for the next session time management and avoidance of clashing items

Reporting from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention: Provision of financial and technical support.

The Group appreciates the financial support provided to non-Annex I Parties by the GEF for the prep- aration of National Communications and BURs, but we are deeply concerned that several developing countries are facing political and non-technical barriers in accessing resources through the Global Environment Facility to fulfil their commitments under the Convention. We request the Global Envi- ronment Facility to secure access to its resources by all eligible developing country Parties in particu- lar support for fulfilling their commitments under the Convention. Furthermore we request the Global Environment Facility to ensure that adequate financial support is available for developing countries for the BTRs as such financial resources would be required both within the current GEF 7thReplenishment 8thReplenishment. period as well as under GEF

Matters relating to the Adaptation Fund: membership of the Adaptation Fund Board

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in decision 1/CMP 14 ensured that all Parties to Paris Agreement are eligible for membership on the Adaptation Fund Board and, furthermore, recognized that the Adaptation Fund shall serve the Paris Agreement exclusively once the proceeds from Article 6.4 become available. We also note that the CMP requested the Adaptation Fund Board to consider the rules of procedure of the Board, the arrangements of the Adaptation Fund with respect to the Paris Agreement and any other matter so as to ensure the Adaptation Fund serves the Paris Agreement smoothly. The Adaptation Fund is a

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