5. The Secretariat shall provide technical, administrative and operational support to the Council and to committees and groups established by the Council, and such other support as the Council may direct.
6. The Executive Director shall submit for the approval of the Council the annual program and budget of the Commission, including provision for proposed cooperative activities and for the Secretariat to respond to contingencies.
7. The Secretariat shall, as appropriate, provide the Parties and the public information on where they may receive technical advice and expertise with respect to environmental matters.
8. The Secretariat shall safeguard:
- (a) from disclosure information it receives that could identify a non-governmental organization or person making a submission if the person or organization so requests or the Secretariat otherwise considers it appropriate; and
- (b) from public disclosure any information it receives from any non-governmental organization or person where the information is designated by that non-governmental organization or person as confidential or proprietary.
Article 12: Annual Report of the Commission
1. The Secretariat shall prepare an annual report of the Commission in accordance with instructions from the Council. The Secretariat shall submit a draft of the report for review by the Council. The final report shall be released publicly.
2. The report shall cover:
- (a) activities and expenses of the Commission during the previous year;
- (b) the approved program and budget of the Commission for the subsequent year;
- (c) the actions taken by each Party in connection with its obligations under this Agreement, including data on the Party's environmental enforcement activities;
- (d) relevant views and information submitted by non-governmental organizations and persons, including summary data regarding submissions, and any other relevant information the Council deems appropriate;
- (e) recommendations made on any matter within the scope of this Agreement; and
- (f) any other matter that the Council instructs the Secretariat to include.
