141. The Chair recalled the willingness of GRVA to organize sessions outside of Geneva as a way to show appreciation to the efforts made during the COVID-19 pandemic by the experts from America and Asia. He noted the ITC discussion in February 2023 with regards to organizing a session in the United States of America. The Secretary asked for guidance regarding the May 2024 session organized in Geneva and recalled the rules for organizing session outside of Geneva, in terms of hosting agreement, costs and needs such as interpretation. GRVA recalled the precedent in May 2022, during which no interpretation services had been provided. GRVA agreed that such session outside of Geneva could be organized as informal hybrid session (English only).

142. The expert from the Russian Federation could not express support to this proposal. The expert from France explained that he would have to check with his capital if an English only session would be acceptable.

143. The experts from Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States of America welcomed the idea.

144. The expert from the United States of America inquired whether the next May sessions of GRVA would also be organized outside of Geneva, with rotations in Asia and America.

145. GRVA agreed to consult AC.2 and WP.29, whether such an informal session could be organized in place of the formal session scheduled in May 2023.