The topic of flexibility related to the transparency framework is a potentially challenging one. Among other things, the framework involves many elements; the elements are varied and raise quite different issues; in many of the elements, technical details abound; and there are strong interests among Parties in both maximizing transparency and ensuring that Parties are not unduly stretched beyond their capacities.
At the same time, it appears possible to simplify the task by dividing it into questions of “what” (i.e., which element of the framework and what type of flexibility), “who” (which Parties can take advantage of flexibility), and “when” (for how long does flexibility apply). At each stage, one might also think about “why,” i.e., consider the purpose of both the transparency framework itself and the inclusion of flexibility options within it.
