The first gathering of legislators from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members took place in
December 1999 on the margins of the 3rd °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Ministerial Conference
in Seattle. This gathering agreed on the need for parliamentarians
to be more closely associated with the work of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ and called
for the establishment of a Standing Body of Parliamentarians
whereby Members of Parliaments (MPs) could exchange views, be
informed and monitor °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ negotiations and activities.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament
(EP) regularly hold Parliamentary Conferences on the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ, which
usually include a briefing from the Director-General.
The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference meets twice
a year in Geneva. The Committee consists of around 30
parliamentarians. The Director-General regularly briefs the
Committee on the status of the latest trade negotiations.
Parliamentary Conference on the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
back to top
The aim of the Parliamentary Conference on the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ is to
“strengthen democracy at the international level by bringing
a parliamentary dimension to multilateral cooperation on trade
issues”. In this regard, the Conference provides legislators
with the opportunity to examine developments in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ, obtain
first-hand information on the state of multilateral trade
negotiations, and consider a possible parliamentary contribution
to these multilateral processes.
These conferences usually include a briefing from the
Director-General of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ and dialogue with Geneva-based trade
diplomats, including the Chairs of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ negotiating groups.
The Steering Committee is composed of around 30 representatives
from various member parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU), the European Parliament and other international
organizations. It is supported by the Secretariats of the IPU and
the European Parliament. The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ (Information and External
Relations Division) observes Steering Committee meetings at the
Committee's invitation and provides up-to-date information on
developments in the trade negotiations.
The Director-General, senior staff of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ, the Chair of the
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ General Council and Geneva-based ambassadors are often invited
to the Steering Committee meetings to brief legislators on the
latest developments in the trade negotiations.
Reaching out to parliamentarians
back to top
Senior °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ management regularly attend key international meetings
involving parliamentarians (including meetings held at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
Ministerial Conferences); they often address parliaments in
capitals and also meet with parliamentary visitors to Geneva.
Secretariat staff routinely arrange briefing sessions for
parliamentarians. The Information and External Relations Division
is increasingly working with parliamentary organizations, such as
the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
and the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, the
Temasek Foundation in Singapore
and the
Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie
and others. It organizes a number of outreach activities (funded
through technical assistance) to inform and engage with
parliamentarians on the latest trade issues involving the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
negotiations. This programme has included regional events in many
parts of the globe, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe
the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Arab region.