EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

Europaudvalget 2016-17
EUU Alm.del Bilag 934
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Buenos Aires Session of the Parliamentary

Conference on the WTO

9 and 10 December 2017

Geneva/Brussels, 14 September 2017

Dear Madam President,

Dear Mr. President,

Since 2002, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament have jointly

led the process known as the

Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade

Organization

(WTO)—a permanent mechanism of parliamentary oversight of this

intergovernmental body, its de facto parliamentary dimension. The principal objective

of the Conference is to enhance the transparency of the WTO and make it

accountable to legislators as elected representatives of the people.

Sessions of the Parliamentary Conference are held annually and in connection with

WTO Ministerial Conferences. As you may know, the 11 WTO Ministerial Conference

(MC11) will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 10 to 13 December 2017. The

international community is hopeful that MC11 will reaffirm the enduring value of

multilateralism.

As on past occasions, the IPU and the European Parliament will organize, with the

support of the Argentinian National Congress, a Parliamentary Conference in

conjunction with MC11 in Buenos Aires. It will take place on the premises of the

National Congress of Argentina on 9 and 10 December.

We are pleased to invite your Parliament to send a delegation to this Parliamentary

Conference.

The Parliamentary Conference is intended for legislators who are involved in

parliamentary activities dealing with international trade, finance and development. It

will provide them with an opportunity to obtain first-hand information on progress

made at MC11, interact with government negotiators and WTO officials, exchange

views and experiences with colleagues in other parliaments and engage in a dialogue

with civil society representatives.

We enclose the provisional annotated agenda, practical information note and

registration form for the Conference. They are also available online

(http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/trade17.htm).

We very much hope that your parliament will participate in the forthcoming Buenos

Aires session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO and look forward to

receiving the names of your delegates in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Saber Chowdhury

President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Antonio Tajani

President of the European Parliament

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

BUENOS AIRES SESSION OF THE

PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO

Buenos Aires (Argentina), 9-10 December 2017

Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Saturday, 9 December

9:00

–

12:30

10:00

–

18:00

15:00

–

15:30

Pre-Conference session of the Steering Committee

(in

camera meeting)

Registration of participants

Inaugural session

•

President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

(IPU)

Mr. Emilio Monzó,

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina

Ms. Marta Gabriela Michetti,

President of the Senate of Argentina

Mr. Krister Örnfjäder,

Member of Parliament (Sweden),

Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

Mr. Bernd Lange,

Member of the European Parliament, Chairman of

the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament,

Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

Ms. Susanna Malcorra,

Chairperson of the 11 WTO Ministerial

Conference [tbc]

Ambassador Xavier Carim

, Permanent Representative of

South Africa to the WTO, Chairperson of the WTO General Council

Hearing with the WTO Director-General,

Mr. Roberto Azevêdo

Buenos Aires and beyond

Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials

What can we expect from MC 11?

Guest Speakers



Mr. Stephen Ndung’u Karau,

Ambassador, Permanent

Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office

and other international organizations in Geneva,

Chairperson of the

Committee on Agriculture, Special Session



Mr. Héctor Marcelo Cima,

Ambassador, Permanent Representative

of the Argentina Republic to the United Nations Office and other

international organizations in Geneva,

Chairperson of the Council

for Trade in Services, Special Session

15:30

–

16:30

–

18:00



Mr. Wayne McCook,

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of

Jamaica to the United Nations Office and other international

organizations in Geneva,

Chairperson of the Negotiating Group on

Rules



Mr. Didier Chambovey,

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of

Switzerland to the World Trade Organization,

Chairperson of the

Negotiating Group on Market Access

18:00

–

19:30

20:00

–

22:00

Reception offered by the National Congress of Argentina

Steering Committee

(in camera meeting)

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

Provisional programme of the session

Sunday, 10 December

9:00

–

10:30

Presentation of reports and interactive debate on

the substantive theme

E-commerce and the internationalization of SMEs



Ms. Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández,

Member of the

European Parliament



Bahrain

[tbc]

Moderator



Ms. Emma McClarkin,

Member of the European Parliament

Rapporteurs

10:30

–

12:00

Presentation of reports and interactive debate on the substantive theme

The role of multilateralism in times of rising protectionism



Mr. Paul Rübig,

Member of the European Parliament

Rapporteurs



Ms. Bogolo Kenewendo,

Member of Parliament, Botswana

Moderator



Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur,

Member of Parliament, India

Closing session: adoption of the outcome document

Rapporteur



Senator Federico Pinedo,

Senator, Argentina

12:00

–

13:00

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

BUENOS AIRES SESSION OF THE

PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO

Buenos Aires (Argentina), 9-10 December 2017

Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament

in connection with the 11 WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Venue

The Buenos Aires session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, to be held in connection

with the 11 WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires, will take place on the premises of the

National Congress:

Calle Rivadavia 1864

1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Tel.: (54-11) 4127-7100

Map of Buenos Aires

Inauguration

Hotel

Ministerial

Conference

Parliamentary

Conference

Ministro Pistarini International Airport, also known as Ezeiza International Airport, is 40 minutes

away from the National Congress and the venues of the Ministerial Conference, the Hilton Hotel and the

New Buenos Aires Convention Centre. Jorge Newbery Airfield is 20 minutes away from the National

Congress.

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

Practical Information Note

The distance between the National Congress and the Hilton Hotel is approximately 3.5 km. Travel

time varies depending on traffic conditions but is about 15 minutes on average. The distance between the

National Congress and the New Convention Centre, the venue of the inaugural session, is 3 km. Travel

time varies depending on traffic conditions but is about 15 minutes on average.

For directions to the National Congress, please consult the MC11 Logistics Information booklet,

which will be sent by 1 October.

Date and timetable

The Parliamentary Session will include two sittings on 9 and 10 December 2017. On 9 December,

the session will run from 2.30 to 6.30 p.m. On 10 December, the Conference will meet in the morning,

from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., subject to the requirements of the MC11 Inauguration. The Conference Steering

Committee will meet

in camera

in the morning of 9 December, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In order to have access to the events and activities taking place on the premises of the Ministerial

Conference, it is highly recommendable that parliamentarians ensure they are registered as members of

their official national delegations to the Conference. Details of these events will be announced closer to

the date of the Ministerial Conference.

Participation and registration

Participation in the Buenos Aires session will be guided by the general principles set out in Article 2

of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO (see http://www.ipu.org/splz-

e/trade08/rules.htm). The session is intended primarily for legislators who are involved in parliamentary

activities dealing with international trade, finance and development.

As a rule, participants in the Parliamentary Conference are expected to travel to Buenos Aires as

members of official national delegations to the Ministerial Conference. This is by far the easiest way to

ensure that their transportation, visa, and accommodation needs are dealt with in a centralized way. More

importantly, as members of their official national delegations they will be accredited automatically for the

Ministerial Conference and will receive ID badges giving them access to both the MC11 at the Hilton

Buenos Aires Hotel and the Inauguration Session at the New Buenos Aires Convention Centre.

If for some reason a parliamentary delegate does not have an MC11 badge, a special

"Parliamentary Session" badge will be issued by the IPU Registration Desk on the premises of the

National Congress. This badge will be valid exclusively for that venue, on 9 and 10 December only, and

will not allow access to the premises of the Ministerial Conference.

10. Irrespective of whether or not parliamentary delegates are accredited to the Ministerial Conference,

they are requested to complete the enclosed "Parliamentary Session" registration form, which can also be

downloaded from the IPU website (http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/trade17/registration.pdf). The form should

be returned to the IPU Secretariat by

1 November 2017

at the latest. Any modifications concerning the

composition of the delegation should likewise be communicated to the IPU Secretariat.

11. Negotiations are currently under way with the Argentinian authorities with a view to providing all

parliamentarians with access to the inauguration of the Ministerial Conference and some events

regardless of whether or not they are included in their respective official national delegation to the MC11.

Nevertheless, final authorizations will depend on the WTO decisions. Should an arrangement become

possible, the IPU will immediately circulate to all parliaments the necessary instructions concerning the

registration procedure (MC11 registration form, photos, etc.)

12. Members of parliament and accompanying staff travelling to Buenos Aires for the MC11 but who

are not members of their countries' official national delegations are responsible for making their own

travel and accommodation arrangements and for obtaining entry visas for Argentina, if necessary.

13. Due to the limited seating capacity of the meeting room at the National Congress, the number of

parliamentarians per delegation should normally not exceed three. Observer delegations should be

limited to two persons. Parliaments are encouraged to strive for gender-balanced delegations.

14. The Registration Desk at the National Congress will be located at the entrance of the meeting room

and will be open on 9 December from 8 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., and on 10 December, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

Practical Information Note

15. Security will be tight in Buenos Aires at the time of the WTO Ministerial Conference. Only persons

duly accredited and wearing official MC11 badges will have access to the area around the Hilton Hotel.

Access to the National Congress will be subject to fewer restrictions, but will nevertheless be subject to

controls. All delegates are therefore requested to wear their identification badges at all times during the

session and at social functions.

List of delegates

16. A provisional list of delegates taking part in the Parliamentary Session will be distributed at the

Registration Desk on 9 December. This list will be issued on the basis of confirmations received by the

IPU Secretariat up to 4 December. Delegates are kindly requested to report any changes to the

provisional list to the Registration Desk by no later than 12 a.m. on 10 December. A revised list will be

published on the IPU website after the session.

Working modalities

17. Procedural arrangements for the session will be made in conformity with the Rules of Procedure of

the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO (see http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/trade08/rules.pdf).

18. A detailed work programme of the session will be circulated in advance of the event and published

on the IPU website (http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/trade17.htm).

19. All agenda items will be dealt with in plenary. The programme will include panel discussions,

hearings, keynote presentations and debates on substantive themes. The debate on each substantive

theme will be launched by rapporteurs, who will present their discussion papers.

20. The format of the session being largely interactive, every effort ought to be made to avoid reading

formal prepared statements. Instead, delegates are invited to ask questions and participate in the debate

by making brief statements and suggestions. As there will be no formal list of speakers drawn up in

advance, the order of interventions and questions will be decided by the Chair.

Outcome document

21. The overall responsibility for the preparation of the draft outcome document rests with the

Conference Steering Committee, which will appoint a Rapporteur of the session from among its

members.

22. The Rapporteur will prepare a pre-draft outcome document for consideration by the Steering

Committee at its session in Geneva on 27 September 2017. A revised draft will then be posted on the IPU

website for comments and amendments by parliaments. The deadline for the submission of amendments

by parliaments is 15 November. No further substantive amendments by parliaments will be possible after

that date.

23. Delegates participating in the Buenos Aires session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO

will have the possibility to submit on the spot, in an individual capacity, additional amendments of an

editorial nature, which do not impact on the document’s

scope or nature.

24. An aggregate list of amendments proposed by parliaments and individual delegates will be

considered by the Steering Committee at its session in the morning of 9 December.

25. The resulting final draft will be presented by the Rapporteur at the closing session with a view to its

adoption by consensus.

Languages

26. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English, French and Spanish. Official

documentation of the session will be available in English and French only.

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

Practical Information Note

Documents

27. The only official documents of the session will be its programme, agenda, the list of delegates,

discussion papers prepared by the rapporteurs, the draft outcome document drawn up by the Steering

Committee and the information notes prepared by the Secretariat. The WTO may provide background

documents for distribution to delegates upon registration.

28. Should participants and observers wish to distribute their own documents or other material

pertaining to the agenda of the session, they are kindly requested to inform the organizers about it as

early as possible. The Host Parliament will make available tables for that purpose which will be located

just outside/close to the meeting room.

Official receptions

29. On 9 December, the National Congress of Argentina will host a cocktail reception in the evening in

honour of all participants. The venue of the cocktail reception will be announced later. Free transportation

to the cocktail will be assured. On 10 December a buffet lunch will be served, subject to the requirements

of the MC11 Inauguration.

Visas

30. All delegates requiring an entry visa to Argentina have a duty to request one sufficiently ahead of

time. The IPU and the National Congress of Argentina are not in a position to provide visa assistance for

entry into Argentina. For information regarding visa application procedures, delegates are invited to read

the Information Note WT/MIN(17)/INF/2 circulated by the WTO

(https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc11_e/mc11_e.htm).

Hotel accommodation

31. Delegates are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. The

availability of hotel rooms in Buenos Aires at the time of the WTO Ministerial Conference will be limited. It

is therefore advisable to book hotel rooms as soon as possible. Special rates will be guaranteed until 20

November.

32. 120 rooms have been booked for parliamentary delegates at the following hotels (please note that

rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis):



Savoy Hotel.

www.savoyhotel.com.ar

For reservation purposes, this hotel can be contacted by Tel: (+5411) 4370 8079 Fax: (+5411)

4370 8020 or email

[email protected]

Tango de Mayo Hotel.

www.tango-hotel.com.ar

For reservation purposes, this hotel can be contacted by Tel: (+5411) 32216580 or e-mail

[email protected]

Miscellaneous

33. For information concerning weather conditions, currency, local transport, telecommunications,

catering and medical services in Buenos Aires, the organizers will publish a logistics information booklet

by 1 October.

Requests for further information

34. Requests for further information concerning the Buenos Aires session of the Parliamentary

Conference on the WTO should be addressed to:

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Chemin du Pommier 5

Case postale 330

CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex

Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: +4122 919 41 10

Fax: +4122 919 41 60

e-mail:

[email protected]

European Parliament

International Trade

Committee Secretariat

Rue Wiertz

B-1047 Belgium

Fax: +32 2 283 1251

e-mail:

[email protected]

and

EUU, Alm.del - 2016-17 - Bilag 934: Invitation til parlamentarisk konference om WTO d. 9-10/12-17 i Buenos Aires

SESSION DE BUENOS AIRES DE LA CONFERENCE PARLEMENTAIRE SUR L'OMC

BUENOS AIRES SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO

Buenos Aires (Argentine /

Argentina),

9-10 décembre /

December

2017

FORMULAIRE D'INSCRIPTION / REGISTRATION FORM

Nous vous prions de nous retourner ce

formulaire le plus rapidement possible

et au plus tard le :

Please complete this form and send it back as

soon as possible and by no later than:

01/11/2017



Union interparlementaire

Chemin du Pommier 5

C.P. 330, CH-1218

Le Grand-Saconnex / Genève

Suisse

Fax : +4122 9194160

E-mail :

[email protected]

PARLEMENT ou ORGANISATION /

PARLIAMENT or ORGANIZATION

....................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Nom (M./Mme)

Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms.)

Titres et fonctions

Titles and functions

DELEGUE(E)S /

DELEGATES



Est déjà accrédité(e)

à la MC11*

Is already accredited

to the MC11*













Oui / Yes

Non / No



Non

/ No





Oui

/ Yes

Oui

/ Yes

Non

/ No

SECRETAIRES ET CONSEILLERS /

SECRETARIES AND ADVISORS









Oui

/ Yes

Non

/ No



Oui

/ Yes

Non

/ No

* Veuillez indiquer si cette personne est déjà accréditée à la MC11 dans le cadre d'une délégation officielle

* Please indicate if the person is already accredited to MC11 as a member of an official delegation

Fax/E-mail .............................................................................................................................................................

Date ....................................................................

Signature .............................................................