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| Report 8th Executive Committee Meeting 1. Introduction The meeting was attended by parliamentarians from seven of the nine member countries represented on the Executive Committee (see list in Annex 1). The main aims of the meeting were as follows: discuss preparations for the next Plenary Meeting, to be held in Chile, including the program and working groups; consider legal and administrative matters of interest to the Forum; and meet the various players involved in the FTAA negotiation process, including the ministers from Canada and Costa Rica.
Next, the Chair went over the proposed working agenda and, after its approval by the Committee members, opened the proceedings.
Next the Chair reported on US Congressman Cass Ballenger's proposal to organize a parliamentary mission to Haiti. Its goal will be to support the OAS efforts to find a consensual solution to the political crisis in that country and to reaffirm the importance of strengthening the democratic process through the holding of free elections, as stated in the Executive Committee resolution of March 2003 with regard to the situation in Haiti. The representative from Haiti, Deputy Ulrick St-Cyr, welcomed this proposal and gave a brief overview of the situation in his country. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation to resolve the crisis and urged his colleagues to be part of this initiative. The Committee members supported the proposal and agreed to proceed with logistical preparations for organizing a parliamentary mission in the second week of December 2003, if possible. 4. Terms of reference
of the working groups for the next Plenary Meeting Working Group 1 will study the issue of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), with special attention to analysis of the main obstacles to the successful outcome of the negotiation process, including the need for labor reforms and environmental impact. Lastly, the group will draw up recommendations as to how parliamentarians can help in overcoming the obstacles and achieving an agreement that benefits all the parties. Working Group 2 will follow up the topic of tax harmonization discussed at the Plenary Meeting in Panama City. Its main aim will be to analyse the various tax systems in the countries of the hemisphere and the possible impacts of harmonization of tax policies, along with the conditions that would have to be met by countries for its implementation. The group will also discuss how parliamentarians could help set such harmonization in motion. Working Group 3 will deal with the topic of terrorism, following up what was discussed at the first meeting of FIPA's special group on terrorism and analysing the conclusions of the OAS Special Conference on Security. It will also discuss the role to be played by legislators in implementation of the Declaration on Security in the Americas adopted in Mexico City in October 2003. Lastly, with the help of experts, it will evaluate the results of the consultation on the issue of terrorism, to be carried out via the virtual parliament, with a view to drawing up specific recommendations on this issue.
It was also agreed that, as on previous occasions, the host country would send out the official invitations and the Executive Committee members would follow these up in the countries in their subregion. Accordingly, each Committee member was assigned a group of countries in which to promote the meeting in Chile and FIPA activities in general. 6. FIPA as a legal
entity and establishment of the Technical Secretariat The Chair of FIPA, Senator Hervieux-Payette, and the representative from Canada, John Godfrey, MP, reported that, as agreed at 6th Executive Committee Meeting, they were continuing negotiations with Canadian parliamentary authorities for offices to house the Technical Secretariat. The Committee members welcomed the progress on institutionalization of FIPA and reaffirmed their support for establishing the Secretariat in Ottawa.
The Committee members agreed with the dues scheme and decided to have it submitted to the Plenary for approval. The Executive Committee members also recommended that the drafting of a proposed model resolution whereby the parliamentarians of the hemisphere officially become members of FIPA. This proposal is to be submitted to the next Plenary for consideration.
8.1 Revision of FIPA
Regulations The Committee members agreed to recommend reform of the Regulations at the next Plenary. If the recommendation is approved, the Secretariat would draw up a proposed amendment for consideration by the Plenary in 2005. 8.2 Candidates for
host of the Plenary Meeting in 2005 The representative from Costa Rica, Deputy Mario Calderón, expressed his parliament's interest in hosting a FIPA Plenary in the near future.
- Senator Céline
Hervieux- Payette, Chair of FIPA Under the Regulations, delegates from each of the regions will elect a representative to the Executive Committee. The Plenary will elect the Chair of FIPA and the host country for the next meeting. The representatives from Chile, Senator Sergio Romero and Deputy Waldo Mora, have officially requested that Senator Hervieux-Payette stay on as Chair of FIPA, given the importance of continuity in the initial phase of the Forum. This request was supported by the representatives from Argentina, Haiti, Brazil and Costa Rica, who also recognized the need for continuity and institutional strengthening of FIPA through extension of the Chair's term. Senator Hervieux-Payette thanked her colleagues for their support and asked for time to consider before giving her final answer.
9.1 Meeting with civil-society
representatives
The ministers explained their countries' general position with respect to the FTAA and reported on the progress of the negotiations. They also explained their views on the benefits of trade integration and responded to the parliamentarians' concerns in this regard. The Chair of FIPA delivered a document containing the recommendations on the subject of the FTAA made by the parliamentarians of the Americas at the FIPA plenaries. She also proposed that a formal mechanism be put in place so that the parliamentarians of the Americas can participate actively in the process of trade integration, as the elected representatives of the citizens. The ministers gave a positive reception to the recommendations, recognizing the importance of parliamentary participation in the process.
10. Annexes 10.1 Annex 1 - Participants Senator Céline
Hervieux-Payette (CANADA) Mateo Barney (CANADA)
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