The procedures for amending the Convention and its annexes are contained in its Articles 15 and 16. Article 15, paragraph 1, of the Convention provides that "Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention". Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention states that "Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at an ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at least six months before the meeting at which it is proposed for adoption. The secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories to the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary". Article 16, paragraph 2, of the Convention stipulates that "Annexes to the Convention shall be proposed and adopted in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 15, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4". Article 16, paragraph 4, of the Convention states that "The proposal, adoption and entry into force of amendments to annexes to the Convention shall be subject to the same procedure as that for the proposal, adoption and entry into force of annexes to the Convention in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 above". In accordance with these provisions, Cyprus and the European Union, by a letter dated 18 May 2011, submitted a proposal to amend Annex I to the Convention with a view to adding the name of Cyprus to that annex as of 1 January 2013, or on a later date. Pursuant to Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the secretariat transmitted this proposal to Parties and signatories to the Convention by a note verbale dated 3 June 2011 and, for information, to the Depositary by a letter dated 22 June 2011. The communication from Cyprus and the European Union, together with the text of the proposed amendment, is annexed hereto.