The second plenary meeting of the leading group, Oslo, 6–7 February 2007

Between 1 September 2006 and 28 February 2007, Norway has the privilege of serving as Presidency of the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development, established at the Paris Conference on Innovative Development Financing Mechanisms on 28 February and 1 March 2006.

On 5 December 2006 Norway hosted an international workshop at the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in Oslo which was exclusively devoted to two priority themes: solidarity levies on aviation and the proposed currency transaction development levy (CTDL). Summaries of the discussions are attached. The workshop served as a preparatory event for the Second Plenary Meeting of the Leading Group, which will also be held at the Plaza, on 6-7 February 2007.

The Plenary Meeting is targeted at senior officials and representatives from international institutions, representatives from international and Norwegian NGOs, and experts from think tanks and academia.The meeting will be opened by the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Mr Erik Solheim.

Attached, please find the draft agenda for the conference, conference invitations in English, French and Spanish as well as highlits from the prepatory workshop.

Please see the conference web site http://www.innovativefinance-oslo.no for further details.