Report of the 16th Executive Committee Meeting
Brasilia , Brazil
June 1st, 2007
The 16th Executive Committee meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) was held at the Brazilian Congress in Brasilia on June 1st, 2007, at the kind invitation of Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, President of FIPA.
The meeting was attended by nine of the eleven Committee members, as noted in the list of participants attached as Appendix 1.
The principle objectives of the meeting were to analyze several projects moving forward on the capacity building initiative and implementing the recommendations of FIPA’s Fifth Plenary Assembly, to draft a declaration for the Executive Committee’s observation mission to the Thirty-Seventh General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama, to begin preparations for the Sixth Plenary Assembly and to plan the first meeting of the FIPA/COPA working group.
Brazilian Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, President of the Executive Committee, welcomed participants and thanked the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, Arlindo Chinaglia, for attending the dinner hosted by the Mexican Ambassador to Brazil, Andrés Valencia, the previous evening.
Mr. Hauly then reviewed the agenda, which was adopted on a motion by Canadian Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, past-President of FIPA.
Members also approved the report of the Forum’s 15th Executive Committee meeting, held in Bogotá, Colombia, November 18th, 2006.
Report on FIPA’s Recent Activities
The President outlined the tasks undertaken in recent months in conjunction with the FIPA Secretariat, headquartered in Ottawa. He then gave the floor to the representative from Canada: Member of Parliament James Bezan, host of FIPA’s first regional trade knowledge workshop for parliamentarians.
Mr. Bezan noted that he was satisfied with the outcomes of the pilot workshop conducted in Ottawa, Canada, from March 18th to 20th, 2007. He emphasized the informative and useful nature of the event and suggested a few improvements to be introduced to the agenda of future workshops. Bezan also noted that the Canadian Section of FIPA had undertaken a similar national project in December 2006.
The two Colombian delegates agreed with the Canadian representative on the usefulness of the workshop and suggested some topics that might be analyzed in greater detail in future sessions, such as complementary policies to fight poverty, multilateral and bilateral approaches to trade policy, the future of the Doha Round of negotiations, subregional treaties, the issue of micro enterprises, and the relationship between the tax system and trade.
Along with other Committee members, the Chair congratulated the Canadian representative for the success of the first workshop and expressed the wish for such activities to be held as often as possible. He noted that the discussion would resume later in that day when the Committee analyzed a proposal for holding the trade knowledge workshops as an annual FIPA activity.
Matters Related to the FIPA Corporation
FIPA President Hauly invited Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, in her capacity as Chair of the FIPA Corporation’s Board of Directors, to take the floor and analyze issues related to the FIPA Corporation. Senator Hervieux-Payette explained to the new Committee members that the FIPA Corporation is a not-for-profit organization established in 2003 under Canadian legislation with the purpose of facilitating FIPA’s financial administration.
Senator Hervieux-Payette went on to convene a series of meetings of executive members and of the Board of Directors of the FIPA Corporation.
General Meeting of the FIPA Corporation’s Executive Members
The Chair of the Board of Directors invited the participants to attend the general meeting of the executive members of the FIPA Corporation. The meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the special meeting of the Corporation’s executive members, held in Bogotá, Colombia, on November 18th, 2006.
Senator Hervieux-Payette then submitted the Corporation’s financial statements for the
2005-2006 fiscal year and the results of the audit performed by PricewaterhouseCoopersLLP. The Board of Directors Chair pointed out that no irregularities had been detected and that FIPA had achieved a break-even budget for fiscal 2005-2006. The financial statements and the audit report were reviewed by the executive
members, who resolved that PricewaterhouseCoopersLLP should be requested to verify the financial statements for fiscal 2006-2007.
The Chair of the Board called for the members to appoint the Board of Directors for the upcoming year. MP James Bezan, Senator Ricardo García Cervantes, and Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette were re-elected, while Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly and Senator Cecilia López Montaño were nominated for the first time.
Finally, the executive members decided on the re-election of Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
General Meeting of the FIPA Corporation’s Board of Directors
The Chair (re-elect) of the Corporation’s Board of Directors, Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, invited the directors elect to attend the general meeting of FIPA Corporation’sBoard of Directors.
The first topic on the agenda consisted in appointing the officers to represent the Corporation. The Board named Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly as Vice Chair of the Corporation, MP James Bezan as Treasurer, and Emmanuelle Pelletier (Executive Secretary of FIPA) as Secretary.
The Board then resolved to renew the existing agreement between FIPA and the Parliamentary Centre (a Canadian not-for-profit organization devoted to parliamentary development around the world), entrusting the Parliamentary Centre with the management of FIPA’s Secretariat for another year.
The Board also decided to authorize the Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer to sign contracts on FIPA’s behalf, and set the fees to be paid to PricewaterhouseCoopersLLP for the accounting audit of fiscal year 2006-2007.
The last part of the meeting was devoted to reviewing the amendments to the Corporation’s bylaws 15, 17, and 19.
Special Meeting of the FIPA Corporation’s Executive Members
The Corporation’s executive members were convened by the Board of Directors to a special meeting, where the amendments to the Corporation bylaws 15, 17, and 19 proposed by the Board of Directors were unanimously approved. As provided by the Corporation bylaws, the amendments shall become effective only upon approval of the Canadian Industry Minister (given that the Corporation is registered in Canada).
Financial Matters
FIPA President, Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, invited members to resume the Executive Committee meeting and review some financial matters. The President gave the floor to FIPA’s Executive Secretary, Emmanuelle Pelletier, who presented the organization’s financial report for the period of October 1st, 2006 through to March 30th, 2007. The Secretary indicated that FIPA expenses during the first half of the year were in line with the budget set for that fiscal year, and noted that FIPA had also received special funds from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) to fund the trade knowledge workshop conducted in Ottawa in March 2007.
Furthermore, the FIPA Secretary presented an account of the dues contributed by member Parliaments during the first half of the year, under FIPA/PA/2004/RES. 1 “For the Official Inclusion of National Legislatures from the Americas in the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas”. The report indicated that, to date, 24 percent of the total dues had already been settled. The Secretary reminded the members that an informative document was available to assist them with the procedures regarding the payment of contributions, the official incorporation to the Forum, and the creation of national chapters of FIPA within each Parliament.
Finally, the Executive Secretary noted that the current agreement between FIPA and the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which has been the main institution
funding FIPA Secretariat staff expenses since September 2005, will come to an end in
December 2007, emphasising that new funding sources need to be identified to secure the
functioning of the organization from January 2008 onwards.
The President then invited the Committee members to discuss FIPA’s financial situation. The Chilean representative called for a follow-up on parliaments that had not paid their dues for the current year. The suggestion was approved on a motion by the members, who asked the Secretariat to provide the Executive Committee members with a copy of the invoices sent to the member parliaments. Additionally, the members requested that FIPA’s Secretariat should draft a proposal to apply for a renewal of CIDA financial aid to the
Forum. The President undertook to give top priority to the stabilization of FIPA’s financial situation and to inform his colleagues on the progress made at their next meeting.
Implementation of the PR Strategy
Report on the Execution of PR Strategy
Luiz Carlos Hauly invited members to read the document drafted by the Secretariat on the progress made regarding the execution of the PR strategy approved by FIPA’s Executive Committee in February 2005. He underscored the efforts made to consolidate FIPA’s relations with the OAS and the IADB in 2006, and referred particularly to the meetings conducted with the OAS Secretary General and the IADB President and to FIPA’s 14th Executive Committee meeting held at the IADB headquarters. Mr. Hauly also reminded
members that the Secretariat started the publication of a quarterly newsletter known as ParlAmericas in September 2006.
During the following discussion, the members praised the quality of the Secretariat’s newsletter and requested its continuous publication and distribution to member parliaments (particularly to foreign affairs committees). In order to reduce production costs the representatives of Brazil, Canada, and Mexico undertook to have the newsletter translated into their respective languages.
Relations with the OAS, the IADB, and the Summits of the Americas Process
President Hauly informed members that a delegation of Executive Committee members, made up of representatives of Canada, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago, including three delegates of the Canadian Section of FIPA, would attend the 37th General Assembly of the OAS, to be held in Panama from June 3rd to 5th, 2007.
The President also requested that the members vote on a draft declaration by FIPA’s Executive Committee to be submitted to the ministers of foreign affairs and heads of delegations of the OAS member states during the OAS General Assembly. The declaration was unanimously approved, with some minor amendments, and the Committee resolved that it should be presented by the Canadian representative (for further details on the text
of the declaration, see Appendix 2).
The President also recommended that the model regulating relations between the United Nations (UN) and the Interparliamentary Union be analyzed in greater detail, considering that the latter has enjoyed the status of official observer to the United Nations since 2002.
Strategies to Encourage Participation of Member Parliaments
Finally, the Committee discussed the strategies to be implemented to encourage greater participation of parliaments currently inactive in FIPA, such as the United States’ Congress, in FIPA.
The past-President suggested that the next FIPA Executive Committee meeting might be held in Washington, DC, so that a series of meetings could be organized with the US Congress authorities and OAS and IADB representatives. The proposal was supported by the members, who undertook to contact their respective governmental representatives and make use of the network of bilateral partnerships to promote the idea and set the best dates for holding the meetings.
In answer to the concerns of some members President Hauly undertook to make every effort to encourage the participation of inactive parliaments in the region, such as the Mercosur member countries, in FIPA’s activities.
Preparations for the Sixth Plenary Assembly
Dates and Nomination of Host Country
The representative of the Dominican Republic expressed her regret that her country could not be able to host the Sixth Plenary Assembly due to the electoral process under way.
FIPA’s President informed the Committee of formalities undertaken to identify a new host country and invited the Committee members to share their ideas and recommendations on the matter. Following a discussion the members agreed that, in the absence of an offer by a country which had not yet hosted a Plenary Assembly, requests could be considered from countries where FIPA assemblies had already been held. Some members indicated willingness to aid parliaments of countries with scarce resources which may be interested
in hosting the event. Although some delegates were in favour of holding the meeting by the end of 2007, it was deemed preferable to confirm the location of the event prior to setting the dates for it.
Preliminary Agenda and Discussion Topics for Working Groups
Delegates were invited to suggest discussion topics for the working groups set up for the 6th Plenary Assembly. Issues put forward included piracy and property rights infringement, the use of bio-fuels, social plans, poverty and delinquency, energy issues, human rights and immigration.
After discussing the suggestions, the Committee agreed that the plenary assembly should set up the three working groups as follows:
1. A working group on trade, responsible for analyzing competitiveness and issues regarding intellectual property infringements, piracy, and dumping (in connection with the growing role of China and India);
2. A working group on energy and sustainable development (the central theme of the 37th General Assembly of the OAS), responsible for addressing the issue of alternative energy sources and climate change;
3. A working group on human rights and immigration, responsible for analyzing, among other topics, the issue of migrant labour, illegal immigration, and deportation of immigrants to their country of origin.
The representatives of Brazil, Canada, and Mexico undertook to designate experts for working groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
It was recalled that the annual meeting of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas would also be held during the Plenary Assembly.
Suggestions on Guest Speakers
When Committee members were asked to propose names of personalities to be invited as
keynote speakers for the next Plenary Assembly, they agreed to send a formal invitation to
the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, during their visit to
Washington, DC.
Preparation of FIPA’s Annual Work Plan and Implementation of the Recommendations of the 5th Plenary Assembly
Capacity Building Project and proposal of a follow up project for the First Trade Knowledge Workshop
The Executive Committee members analyzed several project proposals within the framework of the capacity development initiative promoted by the Committee in 2006. The President noted that the Committee’s initiative had been endorsed by most of the parliamentarians polled in a survey conducted during the sixth Plenary Assembly.
The members focused the discussion on a project aimed at organizing, from now until the end of 2009, four trade knowledge workshops as a follow-up on the pilot workshop organized in Ottawa in March 2007. In answer to the delegates’ queries, the Secretariat explained that the proposal had been drafted taking into account the remarks made by pilot workshop participants. The Executive Committee approved the motion, but noted that
financial support had to be sought to implement the project. The Secretariat undertook to send a more detailed cost estimate to the parliamentarians interested in hosting the next workshop, which should be scheduled for the forthcoming year.
The other proposals were endorsed by the delegates, subject to the condition that the necessary financial resources should be sought for their implementation. Some representatives proposed that other topics could be addressed in future workshops series, such as policies to fight drug-trafficking and strategies for poverty reduction.
Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas
The President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas, Cecilia López Montaño, outlined the progress made in the implementation of the group’s work plan following the meeting held in Bogotá.
She also informed the members that the next issue of ParlAmericas would include a
supplement focused on the progress achieved by the regional Parliaments regarding the
promotion of gender equality.
Furthermore, Senator López Montaño explained to the Committee the details of a regional congress project she seeks to implement so as to establish a front of women parliamentarians to play a leadership role in the development of public policies conducive to inclusion and equality. She stated that the project already received partial financial support from the Spanish government through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which had permitted her to hire a specialist to conduct a survey and coordinate the preliminary preparations for the event.
The Committee members thanked the President of the Women’s Group for her presentation and asked her to send a summary of the project to the Committee members. Although there is no fixed date for the event as yet, the President of the Group was in favour of holding the meeting in March 2008, in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The delegates of the Dominican Republic were particularly satisfied with the dynamic work of the President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians and took the opportunity to comment on the progress made by their Parliament regarding the fight against domestic violence.
FIPA Virtual Tools
The Secretariat outlined the outcomes of a survey conducted during the Plenary Assembly aimed at assessing the use of information and communication technologies among parliamentarians, and their interest in new communication tools.
The delegates then analyzed a series of proposals regarding the development of virtual tools to facilitate FIPA’s work and the interaction among parliamentarians. The Executive Committee was especially enthusiastic about the idea of creating a blog to facilitate the interaction and exchange of ideas among regional parliamentarians and the general public, and endorsed the proposed plan subject to the condition that the necessary financial
resources be sought to implement the project.
Follow-up on the Fifth Plenary Assembly Recommendations and Other
Proposals
To conclude with the preparation of the annual work plan the Committee analyzed the implementation of the Plenary Assembly recommendations, particularly those from the working groups on trade and integration and strategies for poverty reduction, based on a summary table that was distributed to them.
Trade and integration: the Canadian representative, who had chaired this working group during the 5th Plenary, noted that some recommendations had already been considered, in view of the Committee’s decision to further analyze such issues as piracy and dumping during the upcoming plenary assembly, and the organization of a mission to Washington, DC, to meet with US congressmen. Additionally, he proposed that during the visit to
Washington they should meet with OAS and IADB representatives to discuss the recommendation to set up a fund to facilitate the transition of Latin American and Caribbean countries to a free trade regime.
Poverty reduction: the Chilean representative, who had coordinated discussions in this group during the 5th Plenary, underscored the importance of implementing parliamentary discussions on strategies for fighting poverty, especially bearing in mind the impact on some sectors of the population as a result of trade liberalization. Other members insisted on the need to analyze the relationship between tax burden and development policies, as recommended in Bogotá. One member suggested implementing these recommendations by setting up an online working group on poverty reduction, as proposed in the plan to
develop new virtual communication tools. Although the idea was well-received, it was noted that its implementation would require finding someone interested in conducting the discussion of the online working group.
Work Plan of the FIPA/COPA Joint Working Group
The President next brought attention to the implementation of FIPA/PA/2006/RES.10 regarding the creation of a joint working group between FIPA and COPA, as approved by the FIPA Plenary Assembly in Bogotá. President Hauly explained to the new members the main differences between FIPA and COPA, and invited them to have a look at the comparative chart of FIPA and COPA regulations provided by the Secretariat. The President also noted that the COPA Executive Committee had approved a resolution similar to FIPA’s shortly after the Plenary Assembly in November 2006. Finally, he informed the Committee that a meeting with the COPA President, Mexican Senator Carlos Jiménez Macías, had been planned earlier in the year, but Senator Jiménez had had to
cancel his visit to Brazil.
The past-President explained that the call for elections in Quebec had contributed to delaying the first meeting of the joint group, but that the meeting could finally be held thanks to the designation of a new president for the Quebec Section of COPA.
The members agreed that the situation the integration of both forums was favourable and recommended that COPA authorities be consulted to plan the organization of a first meeting in the upcoming months with a view to assessing possible integration structures.
The Canadian and Mexican delegates deemed it important to ensure that the structure and regulations of the integrated organization enable the participation of all the provinces or states of the respective countries. Additionally, the Canadian representative recommended analyzing models used in pre-existing organizations, such as the Interparliamentary Union or the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The past-President insisted on the fact that the selected model should favour a flexible administrative structure, so that parliamentarians remain responsible for the decision-making process. The representative of the Dominican Republic pointed out that they should also consider legal aspects, such as the name of the new organization.
Conclusion
President Luis Carlos Hauly closed the 16th Executive Committee meeting with the reaffirmation that he would undertake the necessary consultations in order to explore the possibility of holding the Committee’s next meeting in Washington, DC, and to organise a first meeting of the FIPA/COPA joint group around September or October 2007.
He thanked the CIDA for its support to the Forum and, prior to declaring the meeting officially adjourned, he reaffirmed his personal commitment to promoting parliamentary cooperation and regional integration in a spirit of fraternity among all countries of the Americas.
Appendixes
Appendix 1: List of Participants
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FIPA President
Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly (BRAZIL)
Central America
Deputy María Estela de la Cruz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
North America
Mr. James Bezan, MP (CANADA)
Senator Ricardo García Cervantes (MEXICO)
South America
Senator Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez Castañeda (COLOMBIA)
Deputy Iván Moreira Barros (CHILE)
Caribbean
Stanford Callender, MP (TRINIDAD and TOBAGO)
Former President
Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette (CANADA)
President of the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas
Senator Cecilia López Montaño (COLOMBIA)
OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Deputy Gladys Sofía Azcona (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
H.E. Winston Moore, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Brazil
Mr. Adailton Texeira da Rocha, office of Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly
Mr. Pablo Serrano, Department of International Relations of the Mexican Senate
FIPA TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT
Ms. Emmanuelle Pelletier (Executive Secretary)
Ms. Sabra Ripley (Deputy Executive Secretary)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT PRESENT AT THE MEETING
Senator Brenda Hood (GRENADA)
Deputy Héctor Julio Pérez Rojas (GUATEMALA)
Appendix 2: Executive Committee Declaration
Declaration to be presented at the 37th Regular Session of the General
Assembly of the Organization of American States
June 3-5 in Panama City, Panama
Adopted by the FIPA Executive Committee on June 1, 2007, in Brasilia, Brazil
CONSIDERING:
That the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) is an independent network composed of the national legislatures of the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose purpose is to promote parliamentary participation in the inter-American system and to contribute to inter-parliamentary dialogue in dealing with issues on the hemispheric agenda, pursuant to Resolution 1673/99 of the OAS General Assembly.
FIPA’s objective to “contribute to the process of integration as one of the most appropriate instruments for sustainable and harmonious development in the hemisphere”;
That Heads of State and Government of the Americas decided, in the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, to “Encourage cooperation and exchange of experiences and parliamentary best practices between national legislators of the Hemisphere, while respecting the separation and balance of powers, through bilateral, subregional and hemispheric vehicles such as the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA)”;
The contribution made by FIPA since 2001 in advancing the hemispheric agenda, described in the report “From Quebec city to Mar del Plata: Progress by the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas”, presented to Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas at the Fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, on November 3, 2005, and to the OAS Permanent Council in Washington DC on April 12, 2006;
The importance that, in addressing the issue of “Energy for Sustainable Development”, the central theme of the 37th Session of the OAS General Assembly, the voice of parliamentarians be taken into account;
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
1. FORWARDS the recommendations adopted by the Plenary Assembly of FIPA on November 21, 2006, on the issues of Trade and Integration, Poverty Reduction, the Fight against Drug Trafficking, Gender Equality and Cultural Diversity to the OAS General Assembly and, in particular, its recommendation stating that “Policies that favour energy integration should be created, taking into account the challenges related to non-renewable resources and the opportunities offered by renewable resources such as bio-energy, wind energy and other sources”.
2. CALLS for OAS member governments to consider national parliaments as front-line actors in the oversight and implementation of commitments that stem from the General Assembly Declaration on “Energy for Sustainable Development,” as a means of ensuring that regional commitments in this area be translated into national legislation and policies that respond to the needs of the citizens they represent.
3. ASKS that the OAS General Assembly take note of the recommendation of the FIPA Executive Committee that representatives of member parliaments seek means through which legislators can contribute to the implementation of a regional energy agenda that fosters the harmonious and sustainable development of the hemisphere, during the Sixth FIPA Plenary Meeting.
4. CALLS for a strengthening of the collaboration between national parliaments and the OAS, through the establishment of two-way direct communication between FIPA and the OAS, the provision of parliamentary input to regional negotiations and debates when appropriate, and through the attribution of a special status that would allow FIPA to participate as an observer in meetings of the Organization.
5. CALLS for a formal recognition of the contribution made by national parliaments to the Summits of the Americas process and EXPRESSES its intention to submit to the Summits Implementation Review Group (SIRG) a proposal for FIPA to be recognized as a special parliamentary observer in this process.
